Labor is the fabled magician's wand, the philosophers stone, and the cap of good fortune.

Quote by James Weldon Johnson

Topics: James Weldon Johnson Quotes

It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and...

It is a struggle; for though the black man fights passively, he nevertheless fights; and...

Washington shows the Negro not only at his best, but also at his worst.

Washington shows the Negro not only at his best, but also at his worst.

Americans are immensely popular in Paris; and this is not due solely to the fact...

Americans are immensely popular in Paris; and this is not due solely to the fact...

Young man, young man, your arm's too short to box with God.

Young man, young man, your arm's too short to box with God.

But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice...

But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice...

My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime,...

My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime,...

It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its...

It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its...

Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious...

Any musical person who has never heard a Negro congregation under the spell of religious...

And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and...

And so for a couple of years my life was divided between my music and...

I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse...

I do not see how a people that can find in its conscience any excuse...

My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred...

My luck at the gambling table was varied; sometimes I was fifty to a hundred...

As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat.

As I look back now I can see that I was a perfect little aristocrat.

As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs.

As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs.

You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There's a...

You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There's a...

When we arrived in London, my sadness at leaving Paris was turned into despair. After...

When we arrived in London, my sadness at leaving Paris was turned into despair. After...

There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I...

There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I...

I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and...

I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and...

The battle was first waged over the right of the Negro to be classed as...

The battle was first waged over the right of the Negro to be classed as...

My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman...

My mother was kept very busy with her sewing; sometimes she would have another woman...

I had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely.

I had enjoyed life in Paris, and, taking all things into consideration, enjoyed it wholesomely.