I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this Royal Slave, to entertain my reader with adventures of a feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poet's pleasure; nor in relating the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents but such as arrived in earnest to him.

-Aphra Ben

Undoubtedly, philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison

-Jonathan Swift

I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give."

-Thomas Jefferson

It is interesting who/what determines history. When written in the past, some misconstrue old writing as fact. However, this course has brought to light the fact that everything is subjective and should be seen as such.

-Daniella Odutola

OH, my rash hand! what hast thou idly done?

Torn from its humble bank the last poor flower

That patient lingered to this wintery hour:

Expanding cheerly to the languid sun

It flourished yet, and yet it might have blown,

Had not thy sudden desolating power

Destroyed what many a storm and angry shower

Had pitying spared. The pride of summer gone,

Cherish what yet in faded life can bloom;

And if domestic love still sweetly smiles,

If sheltered by thy cot he yet beguiles

Thy winter's prospect of its dreary gloom,

Oh, from the spoiler's touch thy treasure screen,

To bask beneath Contentment's beam serene!

Mary Tighe

I might say that my sufferings were great; but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself, as a particular favorite of heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of providence in every occurrence of life,

-Equiano