It makes no difference what you call men—prince, peer, or slave. Man is that name of power which rises above them all, and gives to every one the right to be that which God meant he should be.
No law nor custom, nor opinion, nor prejudice has the right to say to one man, “You may grow,” and to another, “You may not grow,” or, “You may grow in ten directions, and not in twenty;” or to the strong, “You may grow stronger,” or to the weak, “You may never become strong.” Launched upon the ocean of life, like an innumerable fleet, each man may spread what sails God has given him, whether he be pinnace, sloop, brig, bark, ship, or man of war; and no commodore or admiral may signal what voyage he shall make or what canvas he shall carry.—BEECHER.
