50+ Powerful Harriet Tubman Quotes on Freedom & Courage

I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.

For no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me.

When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person.

There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through trees and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven.

There was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.

My home, after all, was down in Maryland, because my father, my mother, my brothers, and sisters, and friends were there. But I was free, and they should be free.

I would make a home for them in the North, and the Lord helping me, I would bring them all here.

Now I’ve been free, I know what a dreadful condition slavery is.

I have seen hundreds of escaped slaves, but I never saw one who was willing to go back and be a slave.

We would rather stay in our native land if we could be as free there as we are here.

My people are free!

I had my jubilee three years ago. I rejoiced all I could then; I can’t rejoice no more.

I grew up like a neglected weed—ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it.

I just removed my father’s trial to a higher court, and brought him off to Canada.

After that, I wouldn’t trust Uncle Sam with my people no longer, but I brought ’em all clear off to Canada.

I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say—I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.

I started with this idea in my head, there’s two things I’ve got a right to, death or liberty.

In my dreams and visions, I seemed to see a line, and on the other side of that line were green fields, and lovely flowers.

If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.

Never wound a snake; kill it.

I can’t die but once.

We’re rooted here, and they can’t pull us up.

I have heard their groans and sighs, and seen their tears, and I would give every drop of blood in my veins to free them.

I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight, and that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.

We was the fools, and they was the wise men; but we wasn’t fools enough to go down the high road in the broad daylight.

Every time I saw a white man, I was afraid of being carried away.

Now, Missus, don’t you think this ole head that done the navigatin’ down in Egypt can do the navigatin’ up here in New York?

Appears like my heart go flutter, flutter, and then they may say ‘Peace, Peace,’ as much as they likes, I know it’s going to be war!

We saw the lightning, and that was the guns; and then we heard the thunder, and that was the big guns; and then we heard the rain falling, and that was the blood falling.

I paid a lawyer $5 to look up the will of my mother’s first master. He looked back sixty years, and said it was time to give up. I told him to go back further.

I ain’t got no heart to go and see the sufferings of my people played on the stage.

Most of those coming from the mainland are very destitute, almost naked. I am trying to find places for those able to work, and provide for them as best I can.

[If my services] do not place woman as man’s equal, what do?

God’s time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free.

I said to the Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to you, and I know you will see me through.

‘Twant me, ’twas the Lord. I always told Him, ‘I trust to you. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect you to lead me,’ and He always did.

The Lord who told me to take care of my people meant me to do it just as long as I live, and so I did what He told me.

Oh, Lord! You’ve been with me in six troubles; don’t desert me in the seventh!

I am at peace with God and all mankind.

I ask of my Heavenly Father, that when the last trump sounds, and my name is called, I may stand close by your side, to answer to the call.

I go to prepare a place for you.

No, sir; the Lord’s never mistaken! Anyhow, I’m going to sit here till I get it.

I’ve got a rich Father!

I think there’s many a slaveholder’ll get to Heaven. They don’t know no better. They acts up to the light they have.

Slavery is the next thing to hell.

If a person would send another into bondage, he would, it appears to me, be bad enough to send him into hell if he could.

Oh Lord, convert master! Oh Lord, change dat man’s heart!

God won’t let Master Lincoln beat the South until he does right thing.

From Christmas till March, I worked as I could, and I prayed through all the long nights.