Quote by Harriet Tubman: “Slavery is the next thing to hell.”

Tubman's stark comparison emphasizes the horrific suffering and dehumanization inherent in slavery, equating it with the worst possible torment. It vividly conveys the brutality she fought against and the profound relief of escaping such a state of utter degradation and despair.

Published shortly after the Civil War and the formal abolition of slavery, this powerful statement captures the vivid memory of the horrors Tubman experienced and witnessed. It served as a stark reminder of the evil that had just been overthrown in America.

American abolitionist and political activist who escaped slavery and then led approximately thirteen missions to rescue around seventy enslaved people using the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War she served as a spy, scout, and nurse for the Union Army.