I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence - Fredrick Douglass

What's Does This Quote Mean?

Frederick Douglas would rather that people treat him with contempt than conforming to other's desires, thus betraying himself and his values. This shows that he wants to be true to himself, and in a world where other people's opinions matter more than your own, that is a very bold statement. Some people have beliefs that are very valuable to them, yet they consider abandoning them for the sake of popularity or preventing ridicule.