There have been hours in my unhappy life, many of them, when the contemplation of death as the end of earthly sorrow - of the grave as a resting plac…

- Solomon Northup

It is not the fault of the slaveholder that he is cruel, so much as it is the fault of the system under which he lives. He cannot withstand the influ…

- Solomon Northup

I could not comprehend the justice of that law, or that religion, which upholds or recognizes the principle of slavery.

- Solomon Northup

What difference is there in the color of the soul?

- Solomon Northup

Is everything right because the law allows it?

- Solomon Northup

I can speak of slavery only so far as it came under my own observation - only so far as I have known and experienced it in my own person.

- Solomon Northup

Life is dear to every living thing; the worm that crawls upon the ground will struggle for it.

- Solomon Northup

Really, it was difficult to determine which I had most reason to fear—dogs, alligators or men!

- Solomon Northup

Suffice it to say, during the whole long day I came not to the conclusion, even once, that the southern slave, fed, clothed, whipped and protected by…

- Solomon Northup