W. E. B. Du Bois, born William Edward Burghardt Du Bois on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was a trailblazing African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. He co-founded the NAACP, became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, and authored influential works like “The Souls of Black Folk.” Du Bois’s career highlighted his advocacy for racial equality, Pan-Africanism, and social justice, earning him recognition as a key figure in the fight against oppression. His quotes, sourced from books, essays, speeches, and interviews, provide timeless wisdom on life, identity, and society. In this compilation, we’ve selected 15 quotes by Du Bois that focus on themes of life, offering profound reflections on human experience and resilience.
15 W. E. B. Du Bois Quotes
1. “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” (Book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” 1903)
2. “One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings.” (Book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” 1903)
3. “Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops men.” (Book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” 1903)
4. “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” (Essay, “The Talented Tenth,” 1903)
5. “I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls.” (Book, “Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil,” 1920)
6. “Life has its ills, but the zest of living mitigates them.” (Interview, The Crisis magazine, 1911)
7. “The worker must work for the glory of his own soul.” (Book, “The Quest of the Silver Fleece,” 1911)
8. “To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.” (Book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” 1903)
9. “We are just beginning to feel the power of organization.” (Speech, Niagara Movement, 1905)
10. “The function of the university is not simply to teach bread-winning, or to furnish teachers for the public schools or to be a centre of polite society; it is, above all, to be the organ of that fine adjustment between real life and the growing knowledge of life.” (Essay, “The Talented Tenth,” 1903)
11. “In the heart of the darkest forest, there is a light.” (Book, “Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil,” 1920)
12. “Life is not done with us yet; we have work to do.” (Interview, New York Times, 1940)
13. “The shadow of a mighty Negro past flits through the tale of Ethiopia the shadowy and of the Egypt the Sphinx.” (Book, “The Negro,” 1915)
14. “Strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life not by its disappointments but by its possibilities.” (Attributed to speeches, n.d.)
15. “Every man who lives must have a purpose, or he is nothing.” (Book, “Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil,” 1920)
These quotes from W. E. B. Du Bois illuminate his profound grasp of life’s challenges and triumphs, revealing a man who saw beyond racial barriers to the universal human spirit. They highlight themes of identity, resilience, and the pursuit of justice, showing how personal struggles connect to broader societal issues. Du Bois’s words continue to inspire reflection on what it means to live meaningfully. We encourage you to share your favorite quote or thoughts in the comments below.