Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears.
Frederick DouglassRead
The opposite of compromise is character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Compromise can dilute one's values, while character signifies integrity and strength of principles.
This quote by Frederick Douglass suggests that compromising one's beliefs or values leads to a loss of true character. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's integrity and standing firm in oneβs principles, as true character is revealed not through yielding to pressures but through the steadfastness of one's beliefs and actions.
Themes
CharacterCompromiseIntegrityValuesPrinciples
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a motivational speech about leadership and integrity.
More from Frederick Douglass
All quotes βWe may explain success mainly by one word and that word is WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!!
Frederick DouglassRead
I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value.
Frederick DouglassRead
To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.
Frederick DouglassRead
The Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider it purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? it is neither.
Frederick DouglassRead
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.
Frederick DouglassRead
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I have nothing to ask but that you would remove to the other side, that you may not, by intercepting the sunshine, take from me what you cannot give.
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It seems that the whole world is beginning to decay, and that its putrefaction has chosen to spread outward from here, from the land of the Pashtuns, where desertification proceeds at a steady, implacable crawl even in the consciences and intellects of men.
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