Harriet Tubman — Quotes

“I have crossed the line of which I had so long been dreaming. I am free; but there is no one to welcome me to the land of freedom, I am a stranger in a strange land.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman reflected on her escape to Pennsylvania in 1849, describing the emotional complexity of achieving freedom while facing isolation and uncertainty.

“I would fight for my liberty so long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman expressed her unwavering commitment to freedom and resistance during interviews about her escape and her work on the Underground Railroad.

“I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman proudly stated this about her record conducting enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, emphasizing her perfect safety record.

“If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman encouraged those she guided to freedom to persevere through hardship during dangerous journeys northward on the Underground Railroad.

“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.”

— Harriet Tubman · This sentiment reflects Tubman's philosophy shared throughout her life about the power of human determination and the possibility of transformative change.

“I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman explained her decision to escape slavery, articulating her belief that freedom or death were her only acceptable outcomes during her 1849 escape.

“Lord, I'm going to hold steady on to you, and I know you'll see me through.”

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman expressed her deep Christian faith during her work as a conductor, relying on spiritual strength to sustain her through dangerous rescues.

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

— Harriet Tubman · Tubman described her childhood and early life in slavery during biographical interviews, explaining how enslavement had limited her understanding of freedom.