Miss Ophelia Quotes

“You ought to educate your slaves, and treat them like reasonable creatures,—like immortal creatures, that you’ve got to stand before the bar of God with.”

“Well, now, cousin, you’ve given us a good talk and done your duty; on the whole, I think the better of you for it. I make no manner of doubt that you threw a very diamond of truth at me, though you see it hit me so directly in the face that it wasn’t exactly appreciated, at first.”

“And he who goes the furthest, and does the worst, only uses within limits the power that the law gives him.”

“The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,—the capitalist can starve him to death.”

“As to family security, it is hard to say which is the worst,—to have one’s children sold, or see them starve to death at home.”

“But it’s no kind of apology for slavery, to prove that it isn’t worse than some other bad thing.”

″‘Topsy, you naughty girl, don’t you tell me a lie,—you stole that ribbon!’ ‘Missis, I declar for ‘t, I didn’t;—never seed it till dis yer blessed minnit.‘”

“It is your system makes such children,”

“Well, I can’t say I thank you for the experiment. But, then, as it appears to be a duty, I shall persevere and try, and do the best I can,”

“Miss Eva, she talks to me. The Lord, he sends his messenger in the soul. I must be thar, Miss Feely; for when that ar blessed child goes into the kingdom, they’ll open the door so wide, we’ll all get a look in at the glory, Miss Feely.”

″‘Topsy, you poor child,’ she said, as she led her into her room, ‘don’t give up! I can love you, though I am not like that dear little child. I hope I’ve learnt something of the love of Christ from her. I hope I’ve learnt something of the love of Christ from her.‘”

“O, nonsense! I want her mine, that I may have a right to take her to the free States, and give her her liberty, that all I am trying to do be not undone.”

“it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.”