"I was born a slave on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia. I am not quite sure of the exact place or exact date of my birth, but at any rate I suspect I must have been born somewhere and at sometime."
Chapter One, Page 1

"Ever since I have been old enough to think for myself, I have entertained the idea that, notwithstanding the cruel wrongs inflicted upon us, the black man got nearly as much out of slaver as the white man did."
Chapter One, Page 10

"There was never a time in my youth, no matter how dark and discouraging the days might be, when one resolve did not continually remain with me, and that was a determination to secure an education at any cost."
Chapter Two, page 21

"Without asking as to whether I had any money, the man at the desk firmly refused to even consider...