Harriet Tubman, known as the “Moses of her people,” was an escaped slave who became a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, aiding others in their quest for freedom.
Born between 1820 and 1822 as Araminta Ross, she faced challenges early on, including a severe head injury at 12 that caused lifelong ailments.
In 1844, she entered a marital union with John Tubman, a free black man and later adopted his name.
Although she didn’t create the Underground Railroad, she escaped slavery in 1849 using its network and subsequently led dozens to freedom, earning a $40,000 bounty on her head.
During the Civil War, Tubman served the Union Army as a spy, scout, guerrilla operative and nurse.
Post-war, she championed causes like women’s suffrage, authored her autobiography and founded an elderly home.
She passed away in 1913 and received military honors during her burial in Auburn, New York.
Below are some of the popular quotes by Harriet Tubman.
Best Harriet Tubman Quotes
Slavery is the next thing to hell. ~ Harriet Tubman.
The Lord who told me to take care of my people meant me to do it just as long as I live, and so I did what he told me. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I would have been able to free a thousand more slaves if I could only have convinced them that they were slaves. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I would fight for my liberty so long as my strength lasted, and if the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me. ~ Harriet Tubman.
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.
Never wound a snake; kill it. ~ Harriet Tubman.
In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no-how. I can’t seem to get over that line. ~ Harriet Tubman.
There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would take the other, for no man should take me alive. I should fight for liberty as long as my strength lasted. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Top Harriet Tubman Quotes
I freed thousands of slaves, and could have freed thousands more, if they had known they were slaves. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. ~ Harriet Tubman.
If I could have convinced more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Pears like I prayed all the time, ‘bout my work, everywhere, I prayed an’ groaned to the Lord. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Some people say i would rather be pushin a ford than driving a chevy, em too I love a good workout. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I never run my train off the track and never lost a passenger. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to You and You’ve got to see me through. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Quakers almost as good as colored. They call themselves friends and you can trust them every time. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Popular Harriet Tubman Quotes
I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Marcus Garvey had in their times. We just had a more vulnerable enemy. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I started with this idea in my head, There’s two things I’ve got a right to, death or liberty. ~ Harriet Tubman.
God’s time is always near. He gave me my strength and he set the North Star in the heavens; He meant I should be free. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I am at peace with God and all mankind. ~ Harriet Tubman.
We saw the lightning and that was the guns and then we heard the thunder and that was the big guns; and then we heard the rain falling and that was the blood falling; and when we came to get in the crops, it was dead men that we reaped. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. ~ Harriet Tubman.
There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other; for now man should take me alive. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I grew up like a neglected weed – ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in heaven. ~ Harriet Tubman.
Famous Harriet Tubman Quotes
If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going. ~ Harriet Tubman.
When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I can’t die but once. ~ Harriet Tubman.
In my dreams and visions, I seemed to see a line, and on the other side of that line were green fields, and lovely flowers, and beautiful white ladies, who stretched out their arms to me over the line, but I couldn’t reach them no-how. I always fell before I got to the line. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was on of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive. ~ Harriet Tubman.
You’ll be free or die! ~ Harriet Tubman.
Read my letter to the old folks, and give my love to them, and tell my brothers to be always watching unto prayer, and when the good old ship of Zion comes along, to be ready to step aboard. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say; I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger. ~ Harriet Tubman.
I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger. ~ Harriet Tubman.
So these were the 37 top Harriet Tubman quotes and sayings on slavery, love, freedom, equality and keep going.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Rosa Luxemburg quotes and Morgan Harper Nichols quotes.
