Character and Excellence: Wise Words from Booker T. Washington

“If you want to life yourself up, lift up someone else.” This encapsulates the life philosophy of the great American whose birth we celebrate today, Booker T. Washington.

Washington had been born into slavery, yet he believed, once free, he could overcome any obstacle. He faced harsh racism, but refused to hate or resent anyone. He dreamed of unity and prosperity for men of every racial and social background in an America that truly had justice for all.

Below are some inspiring quotes from the great American Booker T. Washington:

“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.”

“There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.”

“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

“Character, not circumstance, makes the person.”

“Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”

“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.”

“Among a large class, there seemed to be a dependence upon the government for every conceivable thing. The members of this class had little ambition to create a position for themselves, but wanted the federal officials to create one for them.”

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