Up from Slavery: An AutobiographyWashington, Booker T.
History
Up from Slavery: An Autobiography
Washington, Booker T.
African Americans -- Biography; Educators -- United States -- Biography; Tuskegee Institute; Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
After that kindly introduction I began going North alone to secure
funds. During the last fifteen years I have been compelled to spend a
large proportion of my time away from the school, in an effort to
secure money to provide for the growing needs of the institution. In my
efforts to get funds I have had some experiences that may be of
interest to my readers. Time and time again I have been asked, by
people who are trying to secure money for philanthropic purposes, what
rule or rules I followed to secure the interest and help of people who
were able to contribute money to worthy objects. As far as the science
of what is called begging can be reduced to rules, I would say that I
have had but two rules. First, always to do my whole duty regarding
making our work known to individuals and organizations; and, second,
not to worry about the results. This second rule has been the hardest
for me to live up to. When bills are on the eve of falling due, with
not a dollar in hand with which to meet them, it is pretty difficult to
learn not to worry, although I think I am learning more and more each
year that all worry simply consumes, and to no purpose, just so much
physical and mental strength that might otherwise be given to effective
work. After considerable experience in coming into contact with wealthy
and noted men, I have observed that those who have accomplished the
greatest results are those who “keep under the body”; are those who
never grow excited or lose self-control, but are always calm,
self-possessed, patient, and polite. I think that President William
McKinley is the best example of a man of this class that I have ever
seen.
In order to be successful in any kind of undertaking, I think the main
thing is for one to grow to the point where he completely forgets
himself; that is, to lose himself in a great cause. In proportion as
one loses himself in the way, in the same degree does he get the
highest happiness out of his work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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