17 Highly Inspirational Booker T. Washington Quotes

I really hope that you will enjoy reading this collection of inspirational Booker T. Washington quotes.

Booker T. Washington was an author, speaker and advisor to a number of Presidents of the United States of America.

When he was nine, Booker T. Washington and his family gained freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation.

After first working in a salt furnace and later in a coal mine, Booker T. Washington was determined to get a full education.

In 1872 he enrolled at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University). During this time, he worked as a janitor to help pay his expenses.

He graduated in 1875 and returned to his home town of Malden, where for a number of years he taught children in a day school and adults at night.

He believed in the importance of hard work, education and self-reliance.

His autobiography, ‘Up from Slavery’ still remains as an important work in understanding the struggles and aspirations of African Americans during his era.

Booker T. Washington later attained national prominence after his Atlanta Address of 1895.

This speech attracted the attention of prominent politicians and members of the public. Booker T. Washington became a popular spokesperson for the African-American people of the time.

Both President Theodore Roosevelt and his successor, President William Howard Taft, used Booker T. Washington as an adviser.

The following Booker T Washington Quotes still inspire and motivate people to this day.

Booker T. Washington Quotes

1. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington

2. “Character, not circumstance, makes the person.” — Booker T. Washington

3. “The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.” — Booker T. Washington

4. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” — Booker T. Washington

5. “Excellence is to do a common thing, in an uncommon way.” — Booker T. Washington

Motivational Booker T Washington Quotes

6. “Success always leaves footprints.” — Booker T. Washington

7. “You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you have to overcome to reach your goals.” — Booker T. Washington

8. “Those who are happiest, are those who do the most for others.” — Booker T. Washington

9. “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than to be in bad company.” — Booker T. Washington

10. “We all should rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.” — Booker T. Washington

11. “There are two ways of exerting one’s strength; one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.” — Booker T. Washington

Famous Booker T Washington Quotes

12. “You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him.” — Booker T. Washington

13. “No race can prosper until it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” — Booker T. Washington

14. “The world cares very little what you or I know, but it does care a great deal about what you or I do.” — Booker T. Washington

15. “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” — Booker T. Washington

16. “I will permit no man to narrow and belittle my soul by making me hate him.” — Booker T. Washington

17. “Success waits patiently for anyone who has the determination and strength to seize it.” — Booker T. Washington

I really hope that you enjoyed reading this powerful collection of Booker T. Washington quotes.

As Booker T. Washington famously said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.“

So, let us all try to meet each hurdle in life with confidence, determination and courage, knowing that we have the strength within us to overcome any difficulty.

Let these wonderful Booker T Washington quotes guide you on your exciting journey in life, reminding you that every step that you take is an opportunity to become the very best version of yourself.