I insist that the object of all true education is not to make men carpenters, it is to make carpenters men. W. E. B. Du Bois More Quotes by W. E. B. Du Bois More Quotes From W. E. B. Du Bois Life has its pains and evils-its bitter disappointments; but like a good novel and in healthful length of days, there is infinite joy in seeing the World, the most interesting of continued stories, unfold. W. E. B. Du Bois pain disappointment uplifting The future woman must have a life work and economic independence. She must have the right of motherhood at her own discretion. W. E. B. Du Bois future motherhood work Would America have been America without her Negro people? W. E. B. Du Bois civil-rights america people And yet not a dream, but a mighty reality- a glimpse of the higher life, the broader possibilities of humanity, which is granted to the man who, amid the rush and roar of living, pauses four short years to learn what living means W. E. B. Du Bois dream mean reality So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish, shrewd plodders, full of distrust and sneers. W. E. B. Du Bois selfish learning watches The shadow of a mighty Negro past flits through the tale of Ethiopia the shadowy and of the Egypt the Sphinx. Throughout history, the powers of single blacks flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness. W. E. B. Du Bois stars past fall The return from your work must be the satisfaction which that work brings you and the world's need of that work. With this, life is heaven, or as near heaven as you can get. Without this - with work which you despise, which bores you, and which the world does not need - this life is hell. W. E. B. Du Bois bores-you work life I believe in pride of race and lineage and self: in pride of self so deep as to scorn injustice to other selves; in pride of lineage so great as to despise no man's father; in pride of race so chivalrous as neither to offer bastardy to the weak nor beg wedlock of the strong, knowing that men may be brothers in Christ, even though they be not brothers-in-law. W. E. B. Du Bois strong brother father The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line. W. E. B. Du Bois lines color racism If there is anybody in this land who thoroughly believes that the meek shall inherit the earth they have not often let their presence be known. W. E. B. Du Bois land earth believe Lord, make us mindful of the little things that grow and blossom in these days to make the world beautiful for us. W. E. B. Du Bois beautiful beauty religion The theology of the average colored church is basing itself far too much upon Hell and Damnation-upon an attempt to scare people into being decent and threatening them with the terrors of death and punishment. We are still trained to believe a good deal that is simply childish in theology. The outward and visible punishment of every wrong deed that men do the repeated declaration that anything can be gotten by anyone at any time by prayer. W. E. B. Du Bois prayer men believe I have loved my work, I have loved people and my play, but always I have been uplifted by the thought that what I have done well will live long and justify my life, that what I have done ill or never finished can now be handed on to others for endless days to be finished, perhaps better than I could have done. W. E. B. Du Bois play long people Half the Christian churches of New York are trying to ruin the free public schools in order to replace them by religious dogma. W. E. B. Du Bois religious new-york christian Had it not been for the race problem early thrust upon me and enveloping me, I should have probably been an unquestioning worshipper at the shrine of the established social order and of the economic development into which I was born. W. E. B. Du Bois race should-have order Out of the temptation of Hate, and burned by the fire of Despair, triumphant over Doubt, and steeled by Sacrifice against Humiliation, . . . He bent to all the gibes and prejudices, to all hatred and discrimination with that rare courtesy which is the armor of pure souls. . . . he simply worked, inspiring the young, rebuking the old, helping the weak, guiding the strong. W. E. B. Du Bois sacrifice hate strong The time must come when, great and pressing as change and betterment may be, they do not involve killing and hurting people. W. E. B. Du Bois hurt may people A man does not look behind the door unless he has stood there himself W. E. B. Du Bois wedding-anniversary marriage men Actively we have woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation, - we have fought their battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood with theirs, and generation after generation have pleaded with a headstrong, careless people to despise not Justice, Mercy and Truth, lest the nation be smitten with a curse. Our song, our toil, our cheer and warning have been given to this nation in blood-brotherhood. Are not these gifts worth the giving? Is not this worth the striving? Would America have been America without her Negro People? W. E. B. Du Bois cheer song blood The merchant must be no more pessimist than optimist, since pessimism induces him to hold back his capital but optimism induces him to take such risks that he has more to tear than to hope. Abu al'Fadl Ja'far al-Dimishqi (c. 9th century) Arab writer. The Beauties of Commerce Business pays ... philanthropy begs. W. E. B. Du Bois optimism risk business
