Best slavery & thinking Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings Page 2

“When you think about the abolition of slavery for example, for the ruling class with the rich white people owning plantations and states, and things like that, slavery was to their benefit. To oppose it didn't make any sense at all on a rational basis. But on a rights basis, on a principle basis, it made obvious, overwhelming sense.”

People Thinking Made States White Class Principles Rich Rights Example Benefits Bases Slavery Obvious Rational Overwhelming Ruling Abolition Plantations Abolition Of Slavery

Author:Edward Snowden

“That's one of the beauties, I think, of African American life. There was this thing called slavery and adjustments were made. It literally destroyed millions, but it didn't destroy everybody and it didn't destroy the inner lives of all the people who experienced it.”

People Thinking Made Millions Slavery Destroyed Made It African American Adjustment Inner Life American Life

Author:John Edgar Wideman

“I think in this phase, after the Negro emerges in and from the desegregated society, then a great deal of time must be spent in improving standards which lag behind to a large extent because of segregation,discrimination, and the legacy of slavery.”

Thinking Deals Behinds Standards Slavery Discrimination Legacy Phases Improving Segregation Lag

Author:Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I think almost everything important that's ever happened was unimaginable shortly before it happened. Good things and bad things: ending slavery, ending child labor, women voting, etc.”

Thinking Children Important Happened Labor Slavery Good Things Voting Etc Bad Things Unimaginable Child Labor Ending Slavery

Author:David Swanson

“I think many Dutch just don't know the history of Black Pete, that he is rooted in slavery, and how he was used to dehumanize a race of people. Once they realize this, many stop using this character, but those who continue are either in denial, insensitive or actually racists.”

People Thinking Knows Character Used Black Realizing Race Slavery Denial Racist Rooted Dutch Insensitive

Author:Roger Ross Williams

“I truly believe slavery is why, as a by-product, we still have a disproportionate amount of black men incarcerated in America. It is an extension of that legacy, and that's not going to start to diminish until black people have a new sense of themselves that isn't tied to slavery and feeling inferior. I think the church can be instrumental in that, in terms of repentance, reconciliation and just being more embracing of each other - not just on Sunday, but in life generally.”

“My grandma always said, "Where there's a will, there's a way." I think it's just naturally in our DNA to be able to survive. We was always taught that: to survive. When you talking about slavery, it's to survive.”

Thinking Way Said Able Talking Taught Slavery Dna Grandma My Grandma

Author:Kendrick Lamar

“In terms of America, I think any profound consideration is bound to return us to the notion of twins because, though you certainly can contend there are many Americas, our history has been binary from the beginning, with its hairline fracture down the country's center between what American has wanted to be and what America has been. That fracture is slavery, of course. To some extent it's still slavery, in that collectively we refuse to come to grips with the American fact of slavery.”

Thinking Has Beens Stills Country Facts Wanted America Courses Term Return Slavery Profound Notion Bounds Refuse Consideration Twins Binary Fracture

Author:Steve Erickson

“Half the country seceded from the other half when Abraham Lincoln was elected because half the country couldn't abide his position on slavery. You would think 150 years later this had all become pretty historically incontestable. Yet millions continue to contest it in the face of history. Rather the denial of slavery and all its monstrous repercussions defines to one twin America what the country is and means, and therein is the DNA of those "alternative facts" that people believe when they can't stand to believe the truth.”

People Thinking Years Believe Mean Country Facts America Faces Half Millions Position Slavery Alternatives Denial Twins Contests Dna Monstrous Abraham Other Half Repercussions

Author:Steve Erickson

“Think of US slavery in 1850, or the subjection of women. Both of these injustices could have been - and were! - defended by pointing out, quite correctly, that this situation of slaves and women had been improving throughout the preceding century. Slaves, in particular, were worked less hard, beaten and raped less frequently, better fed, and less often ripped apart from their families. So would a celebration of moral progress have been appropriate in 1850? Surely not. Slavery could have been and should have been abolished - then, if not before.”

“I think we live in slavery to fear. Most people don't have an answer to the death question and really don't even have a philosophy. That is a puzzle to me. I think even if I was not a Christian, I would want to at least have a personal solution to the death question. Otherwise, death is just a frightening thing.”

People Ifs Thinking Want Philosophy Christian Answers Solutions Slavery Frightening Puzzles

Author:Max Lucado

“I don't think that Donald Trump represents the traditional Republican values and heritage of my party. That's one reason that I don't support him. The Republican Party has always revered the individual. We led the way in abolishing slavery, for example, and we recognize the dignity and worth of every human being. it is clear that Donald Trump, by his derogatory comments, by his mocking of the most vulnerable people in our society, by his marginalization of ethnic and religious minorities, doesn't reflect the traditional Republican values.”

People Thinking Reason Values Individual Religious Party Support Republican Dignity Slavery Vulnerable Comment Republican Party

Author:Gwen Ifill

“I didn't know enough about the Civil War or its lingering effects as we all should. It's really easy to think that the Civil War was the end of slavery, and the triumph of our collective conscience and humanity over oppression. Sadly, the oppression and systemic subjugation of people of color in this country still exists.”

People Thinking War Country Enough Humanity Easy Conscience Slavery Oppression Civil War

Author:Bryce Pinkham

“I think all Americans need to recognize that, as tragic and horrible as slavery was, as big an economic shadow as it cast, the one thing it didn't do was strip people of their humanity. And I wish that all of us were as strong as the people that walked down those steps and got on those boats.”

People Thinking Humanity Strong Wish Economic Shadow Slavery Horrible Boat Tragic

Author:Lonnie Bunch

“The story of slavery is everybody's story. It is the story about how we're all shaped by, regardless of race, regardless of how long we've been in this country. We hope that we can be a factor to both educate America around this subject but maybe more importantly help Americans finally wrestle with this, talk about it, debate it, because only through that conversation can we ever find the reconciliation healing that I think we all want.”

Thinking Long Country Helping Healing Slavery Debate Educate Reconciliation

Author:Lonnie Bunch

“In 1855, a former American slave remarked: "Tisn't he who has stood and looked on, that can tell you what slavery is - tis he who has endured."I think the same holds true for women's rights. The incredulity in the question, "What rights don't women have presently that they are marching about?" reflects a troubling disconnect that comes from power and privilege.”

Thinking Slavery Slave

Author:Carolyn Custis James

“People speaking into handheld devices while they walk down the street and saying to the device, "I'm walking down the street now." People are enslaved. I was just up in the country for a few days last week and it was great: no television, no telephone, no nothing. I walked through the woods, sat around, smoked. And it was lovely. I think the desire to be free has mutated, and we now live in an era when the slaves celebrate their slavery - this whole corporate concept of being part of a "team" at work.”

People Thinking Country Desire Week Team Walking Slavery Slave Lovely Celebrate Sat

Author:Nick Tosches

“I think that hip-hop should be spelled with a capital "H," and as one word. It's the name of the culture, and it's the name of the identity and consciousness. I think hip-hop is not a product, but a culture. I think rap is a product, but when hip-hop becomes a product, that's slavery, because you're talking about people's souls.”

Thinking Soul Culture Consciousness Identity Slavery Rap

Author:KRS-One

“My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have to call on God's grace not only for slavery, but for what we're doing now with abortions.”

Thinking Christian Father Grace Slavery Slave My Favorite Abortion

Author:Ann Coulter

“I think what is being pointed out by African-Americans is that from slavery forward they have been living in a supposed democracy which treats them as less than other citizens, less than whites in the society. And I think that pointing out that there are structures of discrimination in the society, deeply rooted racist structures, that segregate housing, that send black children to ill-equipped schools, that discriminate in the workplace - these are truths about our society that must be faced.”

Thinking Children School Black Democracy Slavery Discrimination Racist Workplace Pointing

Author:Joan Wallach Scott

“I think comedy allows people to accept the more difficult parts of history. And history, if it's presented wrong, is just very depressing, particularly the history of slavery. If slavery is presented properly, it's a great story. But I think that within the commercial world of storytelling in which I live, there haven't been many strong works that discuss slavery in ways that are palatable and funny and interesting to the reader.”

People Thinking World Strong Difficult Interesting Accepting Comedy Slavery Storytelling Depressing

Author:James McBride

“There are some really great books that have been written about slavery, but I don't think that the discourse about it in society has been very accurate or healthy. I don't think we've come up with ways to tell it that don't insult people or hit them in the wrong way. Part of the problem is that most people don't really understand what slavery was anyway. Most white people didn't own slaves. Slavery was a way of life, just like driving cars is a way of life now. It doesn't mean that it was right.”

People Thinking Mean Book Problem Car Healthy Slavery Slave Driving Insult Really Great Great Book

Author:James McBride

“It's a shameful piece of history and I think - I don't mean to be political or sobering or anything - but I think America, the United States, we still have to deal with the issue of our original sin, which was slavery. And I think we're seeing the ramifications, the consequences, of not really facing the truth as to what we as a nation struggled towards. You know, struggled with and are still struggling and rectifying.”

Thinking Mean Political Sin Struggle Consequence Slavery Shameful Original Sin Facing The Truth

Author:Tamlyn Tomita

“I think when a society has such a profoundly dark and awful evil such as slavery in its history, then it leaves scars that are very, very deep. And unless we collectively address them and really put our effort to healing them, they'll perpetuate. The United States of America are still suffering from the echoes of slavery. I think we're still reeling from all the pain that is a result of it, and that's a reality.”

Thinking Reality Pain Suffering Evil Dark Effort Healing Slavery Scar Very Deep

Author:Ani DiFranco

“Throughout history we have seen the tyranny of the powerful over the less powerful - think of the history of colonialism or of slavery - and the tragic mistakes made when important information was not "heard" or valued.”

Thinking Important Powerful Mistake Slavery Tyranny Tragic

Author:Mary C. Gentile

“Books are an attempt to control something that's uncontrollable. That's one of the beauties of African American life. There was this thing called slavery and adjustments were made. It literally destroyed millions, but it didn't destroy the inner lives of all the people who experienced it. There are still horrible things that go on because of the myth of race, but we don't have to succumb totally. If I had only a negative side of things to present, I think I would have much less of a drive to do it. Because what would be the point?”

People Thinking Book Negative Slavery Myth Horrible African American

Author:John Edgar Wideman

“The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.”

Thinking Feels Kind Self Enough Hurt Doubt Worst Prejudice Slavery Angry Good Enough Worst Things Not Good Enough Self-doubt

Author:Nina Simone

“I also think there are prices too high to pay to save the United States. Conscription is one of them. Conscription is slavery, and I don't think that any people or nation has a right to save itself at the price of slavery for anyone, no matter what name it is called. We have had the draft for twenty years now; I think this is shameful. If a country can't save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say: Let the damned thing go down the drain!”

People Ifs Thinking Years Country Matter States Names Nations United Pay United States Twenties No Matter What Slavery Volunteer Drains Shameful Conscription Volunteer Service

Author:Robert A. Heinlein

“The greatest secret of monarchic rule...is to keep men deceived and to cloak in the specious name of religion the fear by which they must be checked, so that they will fight for slavery as they would for salvation, and will think it not shameful, but a most honorable achievement, to give their life and blood that one man may have a ground for boasting.”

Thinking Men Giving May Fighting Names Secret Blood Achievement Slavery Salvation One Man Honorable Boast Deceived Shameful Cloaks

Author:Baruch Spinoza

“I know there is a God, and that He hates injustice and slavery. I see the storm coming, and I know that his hand is in it. If He has a place and work for me - and I think He has - I believe I am ready.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Believe Hands America Hate I Believe Ready Slavery Injustice Storm Storms Coming

Book:The Lincoln encyclopedia: the spoken and written words of A. Lincoln arranged for ready reference

Source: The Lincoln encyclopedia: the spoken and written words of A. Lincoln arranged for ready reference

“I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only increased my desire to be free, and set me to thinking of plans to gain my freedom. I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision, and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason. He must be able to detect no inconsistencies in slavery; he must be made to feel that slavery is right; and he can be brought to that only when he ceased to be a man.”

Thinking Men Feels Made Reason Able Desire Found Moral Vision Plans Conditions Gains Slavery Slave Contentment Be A Man Inconsistency

Book:Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Source: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

“Fourth period I have "life skills", which is what they call gym when you're old enough to be offended by forced physical activity (Elody thinks they should call it slavery instead, for accuracy).”

Thinking Should Enough Periods Activity Skills Slavery Gym Fourth Offended Accuracy Physical Activity Life Skills

Book:Before I Fall

Source: Before I Fall

“I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my desire to be free, and set me thinking of plans to gain my freedom.”

Thinking Inspirational Desire Plans Conditions Gains Slavery Contentment Black History Black History Month Black History Month Inspirational Black History Inspirational

Book:Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Source: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

“Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.”

Thinking Men Want Made Reason Truth Asks Freedom Liberty Slavery Rounds Tyranny Rebellion Tyrants Globes Irresistible Appearing Hunted

Book:Paine: Political Writings

Source: Paine: Political Writings

“In the same way that we today think that the slave trade and colonial exploitation were inhuman and inconceivably bestial ways of acquiring riches, there is no doubt that coming generations will think that our form of world trade and distribution of the world's benefits were just as inconceivable and inhuman.”

Thinking World Way Today Form Wealth Doubt Generations Benefits Slavery Trade Slave Riches No Doubt Exploitation Distribution Inhuman World Trade Slave Trade

Author:Erik Dammann

“The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers and mothers?-Or do they wish us to return thanks to them for chaining and handcuffing us, branding us, cramming fire down our throats, or for keeping us in slavery, and beating us nearly or quite to death to make us work in ignorance and miseries, to support them and their families. They certainly think we are a gang of fools.”

“Slavery is so intolerable a condition that the slave can hardly escape deluding himself into thinking that he is choosing to obey his master's commands when, in fact, he is obliged to. Most slaves of habit suffer from this delusion and so do some writers, enslaved by an all too personal style.”

Thinking Facts Suffering Conditions Style Masters Habit Slavery Slave Command Delusion Obliged Be A Slave Personal Style Masters And Slaves

Author:W. H. Auden

“I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist.”

Thinking Slavery Slave Hated Civil War Abolitionist Abolition Of Slavery

Book:The Portable Abraham Lincoln

Source: The Portable Abraham Lincoln

“You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.”

Thinking Differences Ought Slavery Civil War Slavery In America

Book:The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

Source: The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

“I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel. And yet I have never understood that the Presidency conferred upon me an unrestricted right to act officially upon this judgment and feeling.”

Ifs Thinking Feels I Can Feelings Remember Judgment Understood Slavery Civil War Can Not Presidency Remember When American Slavery Slavery In America Anti Slavery

Author:Abraham Lincoln

“I think we must get rid of slavery or we must get rid of freedom.”

Thinking Slavery Slave Slavery Freedom

Book:Selected Writings

Source: Selected Writings

“I think that if anything can be proved by natural theology, it is that slavery is morally wrong. God gave man a mouth to receive bread, hands to feed it, and his hand has a right to carry bread to his mouth without controversy.”

Ifs Thinking Men Hands Natural Religious Mouths Slavery Theology Bread Controversy

Book:The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

Source: The collected works of Abraham Lincoln

“But we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States. I think it is high time that we recognize the contribution of our forbearers who worked tirelessly, men like John Quincy Adams, who would not rest until slavery was extinguished in the country.”

Thinking Knows Men Country States United United States Crazy Slavery Contribution Founders Documents

Author:Michele Bachmann

“We think slavery a great moral wrong, and while we do not claim the right to touch it where it exists, we wish to treat it as a wrong in the territories, where our votes will reach it.”

Thinking Wish Moral Vote Treats Claims Slavery Territory

Book:Lincoln Speeches

Source: Lincoln Speeches

“I think slavery is wrong, morally, and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.”

Ifs Thinking Should States Whole Desire United United States Objects Slavery Unions Spread

Book:The Complete Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln (Biographically Annotated Edition)

Source: The Complete Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln (Biographically Annotated Edition)

“I think that one of the causes of these repeated failures is that our best and greatest men have greatly underestimated the size of this question (slavery). They have constantly brought forward small cures for great sores-plasters too small to cover the wound. That is one reason that all settlements have proved so temporary-so evanescent.”

Thinking Men Reason Causes Slavery Size Wounds Cures Temporary Settlement Underestimated Plasters Greatest Man Repeated Failure

Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46

Source: Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46

“When I think of this life I have led; the desolation of solitude it has been; the masoned, walled-town of a Captain's exclusiveness, which admits but small entrance to any sympathy from the green country without - oh, weariness! heaviness! Guinea-coast slavery of solitary command!”

Thinking Life Has Beens Country Solitude Towns Slavery Green Command This Life Solitary Captains Coast Entrances Weariness Desolation Guinea Heaviness

Author:Herman Melville

“Individuals who have been wronged by unlawful racial discrimination should be made whole; but under our Constitution there can be no such thing as either a creditor or a debtor race. That concept is alien to the Constitution's focus upon the individual. ...To pursue the concept of racial entitlement - even for the most admirable and benign of purposes - is to reinforce and preserve for future mischief the way of thinking that produced race slavery, race privilege and race hatred. In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American.”

“Slavery has never been abolished from America's way of thinking.”

Thinking Way America Racism Slavery Way Of Thinking

Author:Nina Simone

“Those who do not think that employment is systemic slavery are either blind or employed.”

Thinking Slavery Blind Employment Employed Nerdiness

Book:The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

Source: The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

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Slavery Quotes