Hsun Tzu Man's Nature Is Evil

Born into a life of slavery, Frederick Douglass overcame a boatload of obstacles in his very accomplished life. While a slave he was able to learn how to read and write, which was the most significant accomplishment in his life. This was significant, not only because it was forbidden for a slave to read due to the slaveholders wanting to keep them ignorant to preserve slavery, but because it was the starting point for Frederick to think more freely and more profound. Frederick Douglass then taught other slaves how to read and write because he believed and taught “Once you learn to read you will be forever free” (Frederick Douglass). This man was an astonishing individual who

The life of Frederick Douglass was as horrible and miserable as any other slave. However, since bravery was his most dominant trait Frederick’s life became the life of a hero. Born into slavery on the year of 1818, Frederick never really got to know his family and was separated at birth. Growing up, he knew that blacks like him were not supposed to be educated, or treated as well as the whites. This compelled Frederick even

Fredrick Douglas was born a slave. In his narrative, Mr. Douglass explains how his mistress took an interest in him. Mrs. Auld would teach Mr. Douglass how to read, but was forbidden to continue by her husband, Mr. Auld. Mr. Auld explained to his wife, teaching a slave to read and write would make him unmanageable and unfit to be a slave. It was at this very moment Frederick Douglas learned whites held slaves back by depriving them of an education and literacy.

In reading “The Columbian Orator” by Caleb Binghams, Douglass learns that the slave industry is dependent on the constant and absolute control of slaveholders over their slaves.[] Therefore, in order to maintain control, slaveholders perpetuated slavery by maintaining their slave’s ignorance and depriving them of an education.[] By doing so, slave owners reduced their slave’s state of mind to that of an animal, unable to think, speak and advocate for themselves. After reading “The Columbian Orator,” in particular the Dialogues Between a Master and Slave by John Aikins, Douglass understood the “pathway from slavery to freedom;” becoming educated.[] Fredrick Douglass provides the strong argument that in order to achieve physical freedom, a slave must achieve mental freedom. Through knowledge and an education, slaves can achieve mental freedom which will give them a sense of self-sufficiency and capacity.[] Through this mental freedom, slaves will have the ability to exhibit control over

What enlightens me about Douglass was his drive for education. He taught me while reading this Primary Source that despite what kind of obstacle that may try to come up against your success, if you believe in what you are fighting for, there is nothing that can stand in your way of accomplishing your goals. Over time I have often struggled with understanding college math. So many times I have wanted to give up but despite this feeling of agony, I chose to keep pushing myself to stay in the class because I am inspired by the life of Frederick Douglass that my goals will soon come to pass.

Malcom X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This quotation means that education is an important thing, and we should prepare for our future. Fredrick Douglass and Malcom X are two different men who write similar aspects. Fredrick Douglass is a slave, and Malcom X is a criminal, both were deprived of obtaining a higher sense of education. They are two activists who grew up to realize the importance of an education, in reading and writing. In Frederick Douglas’s essay “Learning to Read and Write” and Malcolm’s “Learning to Read” one can compare and contrast the analysis both essays.

Throughout history, there have been many black-rights activists that use their power of speaking to fight injustice and promote equality. One of those activists, who fought for equality with the power of his words, was Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He had a vision of the roles of African Americans during and after the war to ensure they receive citizenship and freedom. Frederick Douglass faced many tribulations throughout his life and that only made his speeches for equality and justice that much more powerful because he was a victim of injustice. Douglass believed that if African Americans want to have citizenship and be seen as equals, they must prove that they deserve it. In order to prove that African Americans deserve citizenship, Douglass encouraged them to enlist and join the fight for equality. Although there were obstacles in seeing his vision implemented Douglass stood his ground and fought until his vision becomes reality.

Fredrick Douglass began life in a difficult position. Born into slavery, he did not have the good fortune of having a parent to attend to him. He witnessed unspeakable cruelty daily, which undoubtedly caused him a great deal of emotional distress. Yet, he never gave up on himself. Throughout his life, he continually sought to better himself through any means available to him. Against all odds, Douglass made tremendous strides in his efforts to better himself, and he eventually succeeded in achieving his ultimate goal of escaping from the horrors of slavery.

The power of education was also a key argument in “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, but it was not an argument with a consistent meaning. Although Frederick Douglass believes that the only way to freedom for him and his fellow slaves, is through learning how to build on. At the same time Douglass is disgusted with education because it lets him know and fully understand the extent and horrors of slavery. Later, he finds out that while the conditions are slightly better there is still a great deal of injustice. He then begins to think getting his education could be his way to liberty and freedom and though he endeavors to learn much as he can, he starts to doubt whether he is correct or not. He then state “I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out” (47). In the end, these elements of freedom-becoming educated-led to his last act of rebellion, which he thought would bring him freedom. H e engages in a fight with his master. He can no longer stand his new sense of education and knowledge. He states “This battle with Mr.

Some of the things Fredrick Douglass did to better society was spread the word about civil rights by sharing his horrible experiences by publishing books and giving speeches to influence people to fight for what they think is right (Timeline of Frederick Douglass and Family). He also reached out to Abraham Lincoln during the civil war to recruit black soldiers so they could fight for what they saw was right (Freedman & Watts). He wasn’t just fighting for African American civil rights, he was also fighting for woman’s civil rights as a women’s suffragist (Sundstrom).

Although Augustine and Hsün Tzu studied two different topics, they still agreed that humans remain evil through adolescence. For example, in Confessions, Augustine claims, “For in my adolescence I sometimes burned to glut myself on the sins of Hell and I let myself go in shadowy loves, while in your eyes I decayed and rotted, pleasing myself and desiring instead to be pleasing in the eyes of mankind” (Augustine 165). Augustine explains that through our young adulthood, we slowly discover what it means to be good, but we do not totally know how to act on it yet. More evidence of this is seen in Man’s Nature Is Evil, and Hsün Tzu states, “A warped piece of wood must wait until it has been laid against the straightening board, steamed, and forced into shape before it can become straight; a piece of blunt metal must wait until it has been whetted on a grindstone before it can become sharp” (Hsün Tzu 130). Hsün Tzu uses this metaphor to show that we are not born knowing how to be good. Throughout our lives, people teach and shape us to be good. Others must teach us through our life what it means to be good and evil. Humans must learn how to be good, from other people and the mistakes they make through their adolescence. Augustine and Hsün Tzu make it clear that they both feel the same way on this topic. Augustine gives us a personal example of when he

Fredrick Douglass’s life as a slave was hard any slave’s life would be. He was born into slavery in Tuckahoe, Maryland where he lived as a slave while being raised by his grandparents. He was treated horribly by his masters growing up. Around when Fredrick was eight years old he got transported to Baltimore, Maryland where he worked for Hugh Auld who was strict as could be. On the contrary his wife was kind and actually got to teach Fredrick Douglass some reading and writing skills. Hugh Auld did not let it last so he made his wife stop teaching him. This was not the end of Douglass’s education because he pretty much taught himself how to read and write by looking at other people’s handwriting and also by using newspapers. Soon he was actually able to make out what the newspapers were saying so he could now know what was going on around the

Douglass also served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of our American history. Frederick Douglass was also worked very hard in the women’s rights movement. He once said

Literacy was Douglass's first step on the road to his freedom, and that of his fellow African slaves. In addition, Douglas knew less about the slavery unfairness, until after finding the book The Columbian Orator, which was explaining the cases against slavery. He was angered by what he learnt about this book, and what the masters have done to the slaves. The book made him think that slavery was his fate, and there was no escape from it.

Once returned the third time his master brought the argument for slavery to the slave. The slave disposed the master’s argument and replied with something so “smart and impressive” says Douglas that the conversation results in the master voluntary releasing the slave. This was the hope that Frederick Douglas needed to continuity living under his oppressors. He was gaining the proof that “the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder. A bold denunciation of slavery and a powerful vindication of human rights.” What his mistresses’ husband hoped to rob from the slaves was their intelligence and knowledge of human right. Something as a society today we value highly of. We are encouraged to go to school and get the grades to earn the degree that would allow us to work the dream job we desire. The trials Fredrick had gone through as a slave trying to have an education should be encouragement that with dedication any person can achieve what they set out to learn. If he was able to learn in secret and at adolescence discovered a means to end that leaves no excuse for an unhappy adult with a dead end job to return to school to obtain a better position. After learning to read Frederick felt it was double edge sword he was now aware of his terrible placement in the world and began to feel envious of his fellow