What Frederick Douglass thinks about happiness
American abolitionist and writer (about 1817 to 1895); born into slavery, escaped in 1838 and became a principal leader and spokesperson of the abolition movement; author of three autobiographies.
Frederick Douglass did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Only Frederick Douglass on happiness. See everyone on happiness
3 dated positions, c. 1845 to c. 1881, in their own words. Our reading of what Frederick Douglass has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsIn anything like a normal condition of things, the South is the best place for the negro. Nowhere else is there for him a promise of a happier future.
↗Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881)gutenberg.org All 17 from this book
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Their wordsSlaves 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.
↗Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845)gutenberg.org All 18 from this book
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Their wordsI 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.
↗Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845)gutenberg.org All 18 from this book