Promised land Quote by W.E.B. Du Bois
““I sit with Shakespeare, and he winces not. Across the color line I move arm and arm with Balzac and Dumas, where smiling men and welcoming women glide in gilded halls. From out of the caves of evening that swing between the strong-limbed Earth and the tracery of stars, I summon Aristotle and Aurelius and what soul I will, and they come all graciously with no scorn nor condescension. So, wed with Truth, I dwell above the veil. Is this the life you grudge us, O knightly America? Is this the life you long to change into the dull red hideousness of Georgia? Are you so afraid lest peering from this high Pisgah, between Philistine and Amalekite, we sight the Promised Land?””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Souls of Black Folk”, 1903
The author seeks truth and wisdom across cultures, confronting oppression and yearning for a promised future.
In simple terms: Pursuing truth across cultures against oppression.
Seek truth, unite diverse wisdom, and envision a hopeful future.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- public speaking
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can diverse philosophies guide social change?
- What does “wed with Truth” mean for personal responsibility?
The vision may seem idealistic amid systemic barriers.