"There stood slavery, a stern reality, glaring frightfully upon us,—its robes already crimsoned with the blood of millions, and even now feasting itself greedily upon our own flesh. On the other hand, away back in the dim distance, under the flickering light of the north star, behind some craggy hill or snow-covered mountain, stood a doubtful freedom."

"The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work."

"The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege. I was not allowed to make any inquiries of my master concerning it. He deemed all such inquiries on the part of a slave improper and impertinent."

"My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered
about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!"

"Mr. Severe was rightly named: he was a cruel man. I have seen him whip a woman.... He seemed to take pleasure in
manifesting his fiendish barbarity."

"She now commenced to practice her husband’s precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. She was not satisfied with simply doing as well as he had commanded; she seemed anxious to do better."