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Fortune may crowd a man's life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he makes a wise and vigorous use of them.

Frederick Douglass

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Frederick Douglass
Age: 77 †
Born: 1818
Born: February 14
Died: 1895
Died: February 20
Abolitionist
Autobiographer
Businessperson
Caulker
Diplomat
Editor
Film Editor
Journalist
Orator
Politician
Suffragist
Writer
Talbot County
Maryland
Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey
Frederick Augustus Washington Baly
Fred Bailey
Freddie Bailey
Use
Fortunate
Makes
Opportunities
May
Fortune
Nothing
Circumstances
Men
Unless
Avail
Life
Wise
Vigorous
Happy
Crowd
Opportunity
Crowds

More quotes by Frederick Douglass

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Slaves were expected to sing as well as to work. A silent slave was not liked, either by masters or overseers.
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I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of humanity...
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Our destiny is largely in our hands.
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We succeed, not alone by the laborious exertions of our faculties, be they small or great, but by the regular, thoughtful and systematic exercise of them.
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Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.
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Neither we, nor any other people, will ever be respected till we respect ourselves and we will never respect ourselves till we have the means to live respectfully.
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Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.
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Men of Color, To Arms! The case is before you. This is our golden opportunity. Let us accept it, and forever wipe out the dark reproaches unsparingly hurled against us by our enemies. Let us win for ourselves the gratitude of our country, and the best blessings of our posterity through all time.
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We are Americans, speaking the same language, adopting the same customs, holding the same general opinions... and shall rise and fall with Americans.
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In the struggle for justice, the only reward is the opportunity to be in the struggle. You can't expect that you're going to have it tomorrow. You just have to keep working on it.
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The District of Columbia is the one spot where there is no government for the people, of the people and by the people.
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Be not discouraged. There is a future for you. . . . The resistance encountered now predicates hope. . .
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American labor rights activist, on activities of the National Farm Workers Association Human law may know no distinction among men in respect of rights, but human practice may.
Frederick Douglass
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Yet people in general will say they like colored men as well as any other, but in their proper place.
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Fugitive slaves were rare then, and as a fugitive slave lecturer, I had the advantage of being the first one out.
Frederick Douglass
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In life you don't get everything you pay for, but you must pay for everything you get.
Frederick Douglass
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I had as well be killed running as die standing
Frederick Douglass
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Let us render the tyrant no aid let us not hold the light by which he can trace the footprints of our flying brother.
Frederick Douglass
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I glory in the conflict, that I may hereafter exult in the victory. I know that victory is certain.
Frederick Douglass
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The American Constitution is a written instrument full and complete in itself. No Court in America, no Congress, no President, can add a single word thereto, or take a single word threreto. It is a great national enactment done by the people, and can only be altered, amended, or added to by the people.
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