The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.
If you haven't confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself.
We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind.
Never forget that intelligence rules the world and ignorance carries the burden. Therefore, remove yourself as far as possible from ignorance and seek as far as possible to be intelligent.
A people without the knowledge of...
Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden...
Always try to associate with people from whom you can learn something. All the knowledge that you want is in the world, and all you have to do is go and seek it.
The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind.
Be Black, buy Black, think Black, and all else will take care of itself.
If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.
The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.
When all else fails to organize the people, conditions will.
Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.
With confidence, you have won before you have started.
Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.
The thing to do is to get organized; keep separated and you will be exploited, you will be robbed, you will be killed. Get organized and you will compel the world to respect you.
I trust that you will so live today as to realize that you are masters of your own destiny, masters of your fate; if there is anything you want in this world, it is for you to strike out with confidence and faith in self and reach for it.