Behind the Scenes Quotes

“None of us are perfect, for which reason we should heed the voice of charity when it whispers in our ears, "Do not magnify the imperfections of others.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

“An act may be wrong, but unless the ruling power recognizes the wrong, it is useless to hope for a correction of it.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“I was regarded as fair-looking for one of my race, and for four years a white man—I spare the world his name—had base designs upon me. I do not care to dwell upon this subject, for it is one that is fraught with pain. Suffice it to say, that he persecuted me for four years, and I—I—became a mother. The child of which he was the father was the”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

“Besides, I have determined that”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

“Just then both goats looked up at the window and shook their heads as if they would say "How d'ye do, old friend?" "See, Madam Elizabeth," exclaimed the President in a tone of enthusiasm, "my pets recognize me. How earnestly they look! There they go again; what jolly fun!" and he laughed outright as the goats bounded swiftly to the other side of the yard. Just then Mrs. Lincoln called out, "Come, Lizabeth; if I get ready to go down this evening I must finish dressing myself, or you must stop staring at those silly goats.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

“No; eternal slavery rather than be regarded with distrust by those whose respect I esteemed.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House

“These revolting scenes created a great sensation at the time, were the talk of the town and neighborhood, and I flatter myself that the actions of those who had conspired against me were not viewed in a light to reflect much credit upon them.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House

“What a sublime picture was this! A ruler of a mighty nation going to the pages of the Bible with simple Christian earnestness for comfort and courage, and finding both in the darkest hours of a nation’s calamity. Ponder it, O ye scoffers at God’s Holy Word, and then hang your heads for very shame!”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“Mrs. Lincoln firmly believes that Mr. Johnson was concerned in the assassination plot.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“Its origin is said to be African. The Latin word totum, from totus, means all—an entire body—the whole.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“sat in the chair that Jefferson Davis sometimes occupied; also in the chair of the Vice-President, Alexander H. Stephens. We paid a visit to the mansion occupied by Mr. Davis and family during the war, and the ladies who were in charge of it scowled darkly upon our party as we passed through and inspected the different rooms. After a delightful visit we returned to City Point.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“They were particularly elated, as it was reported that the rebel capital had surrendered to colored troops. I had promised my employees”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“But it will work, if you will only determine that it shall work.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“Alas! the sunny face of the slave is not always an indication of sunshine in the heart.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House

“You have my best wishes, Mr. Douglas; still I cannot consent to be your wife. I shall become Mrs. President, or I am the victim of false prophets, but it will not be as Mrs. Douglas.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

“The man who enlists into the service for a consideration, and deserts the moment he receives his money but to repeat the play, is bad enough; but the men who manipulate the grand machine and who simply make the bounty-jumper their agent in an outrageous fraud are far worse. They are beneath the worms that crawl in the dark hidden places of earth.”
― Elizabeth Keckley, Behind the Scenes Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House