Benjamin E. Mays

Benjamin E. Mays – Life, Career & Famous Quotes

Benjamin E. Mays (1895–1984) was an American educator, minister, and civil-rights leader. As President of Morehouse College and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., his lifelong commitment to education, justice, and moral leadership left a lasting legacy. Learn his biography, influence, and inspiring quotes here.

Introduction

Benjamin Elijah Mays was more than an educator — he was a moral beacon in 20th-century America. Often called the “spiritual mentor” and “intellectual father” of Martin Luther King Jr., his life bridged faith, scholarship, and activism. Though born in the Jim Crow South and raised in adversity, Mays rose to lead one of the foremost historically Black colleges, shape generations of leaders, and speak boldly for equality. Today, his ideals remain deeply relevant in conversations about education, civil rights, and leadership.

In this article, we explore the life and career of Benjamin E. Mays, his principles, his influence on civil rights, and several of his most poignant quotes. Whether you’re a student of history or seeking timeless wisdom, Mays’s story and words are a compelling guide.

Early Life and Family

Benjamin Elijah Mays was born on August 1, 1894 (some sources mistakenly list 1895) in Epworth, Greenwood County, South Carolina, the youngest of eight children. Hezekiah Mays and Louvenia Carter Mays, had both been born into slavery and were emancipated after the Civil War.

His early years were marked by both poverty and tension. His family worked as tenant farmers in the rural South.

Despite hardships, the Mays household placed high importance on education, faith, and character. His eldest sister, Susie, taught him to read even before formal schooling began, giving him an early advantage.

Youth and Education

From a young age, Mays displayed intellectual promise. He attended small local schools in South Carolina — in one-room classrooms and modest rural settings.

Encouraged by mentors, Mays began undergraduate studies at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and was accepted with a full scholarship.

Mays continued his education at the University of Chicago, earning a master’s degree in 1925. The Negro’s Church).

Career and Achievements

Early Ministry, Scholarship, and Academia

While pursuing his graduate work, Mays was also ordained as a Baptist minister around 1921. Shiloh Baptist Church in Atlanta early in his ministerial years.

His academic career took shape when he accepted a position at Howard University as the Dean of the School of Religion (in the 1930s).

In 1940, he was appointed President of Morehouse College, a historically Black men’s liberal arts institution in Atlanta. He served in that role from 1940 until 1967.

Because Morehouse’s student body was relatively small, Mays was able to mentor many students personally. One of his most famous mentees was Martin Luther King Jr. King often attended Mays’s sermons and sought his counsel.

Civil Rights & Later Roles

Mays was not merely an academic administrator; he was an outspoken moral voice for civil rights.

A pivotal moment was Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in 1968: Mays delivered the eulogy, famously declaring that “No man is ahead of his time” — a masterful oration that solidified his role as a moral voice in the movement.

After stepping down from Morehouse in 1967, Mays remained active in education and civic affairs. He served as President of the Atlanta Board of Education (1970s), where he guided the peaceful desegregation of Atlanta’s public schools under federal court orders.

He received numerous honors, including honorary doctorates (nearly 30 during his lifetime), election to the Schomburg Honor Roll of Race Relations, and many institutions named in his honor.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Mays’s career spanned the era of Jim Crow segregation, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, and the early decades of school desegregation.

• His influence at Morehouse coincided with a period when Black intellectual leadership was crucial in shaping the demand for equality and justice.

• His mentorship of MLK created a direct lineage from moral, religious conviction to mass civil rights activism.

• At his death on March 28, 1984, his body was later entombed on the campus of Morehouse College (alongside his wife) as a lasting monument to his life in service.

Legacy and Influence

Benjamin E. Mays’s legacy continues across multiple domains:

1. Education & Mentorship
   Through his leadership at Morehouse and his personal mentoring of students, he shaped generations of Black intellectuals, educators, ministers, and activists.

2. Moral Voice in Civil Rights
   While not always in the limelight, Mays provided the ethical and theological grounding for many civil rights arguments. He is often called the movement’s intellectual conscience.

3. Symbol of Excellence under Adversity
   Rising from impoverished beginnings and systemic racism, Mays embodied the power of perseverance, high standards, and moral integrity.

4. Institutional Remembrance
   Numerous schools, scholarships, programs, and buildings bear his name. His influence is institutionalized in honors and memorials across the U.S.

His life remains a model for how scholarship, faith, and activism can work together to further justice and uplift communities.

Personality and Talents

Mays was known for his intellectual rigor, disciplined work ethic, deep moral conviction, and eloquent oratory.

His faith was central to his life. He saw education and social change as part of a religious calling, not merely secular tasks.

Despite his stature, he often valued humility, service, and character over acclaim. Many who knew him emphasize how approachable he remained, with sincerity underpinning his interactions.

Famous Quotes of Benjamin E. Mays

Here are some of Benjamin E. Mays’s most memorable and impactful quotes:

• “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.”

• “It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture.”

• “A child must learn early to believe that she is somebody worthwhile, and that she can do many praiseworthy things.”

• “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive — and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.”

• “Honest communication is built on truth and integrity and upon respect of the one for the other.”

• “The circumference of life cannot be rightly drawn until the center is set.”

• “Not failure, but low aim, is sin.”

• “It isn’t a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.”

These quotes reflect his consistent emphasis on purpose, aspiration, integrity, and the spiritual dimension of human striving.

Lessons from Benjamin E. Mays

From Mays’s life and philosophy, several enduring lessons emerge:

1. Aim High, Even When Circumstances Are Low
   Mays taught that the tragedy is not in failing, but in not having a goal at all.

2. Character & Integrity Matter
   His emphasis on honest communication and moral purpose reminds us that means are as important as ends.

3. Mentorship Has Generational Impact
   His influence on students like Martin Luther King Jr. shows how investing in others can multiply one’s legacy.

4. Faith & Scholarship Can Co-exist
   He modeled a life where religious conviction informed scholarship and activism, bridging spheres often kept apart.

5. Adversity Can Strengthen Resolve
   From discrimination, poverty, and threats, Mays turned hardship into fuel for his lifelong commitment to justice.

Conclusion

Benjamin E. Mays’s life is a testament to the power of education, moral clarity, and perseverance. Rising from the rural South during segregation, he became a towering figure in American intellectual and civil rights history. His leadership at Morehouse College, his mentoring of Martin Luther King Jr., and his principled advocacy for equality make him a lasting exemplar of dignity and purpose.