None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by

Hear the wisdom of Thurgood Marshall, the great judge and champion of justice, who declared: “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody—a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns—bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” In these words, he breaks apart the illusion of pure self-reliance, reminding us that greatness is never born in isolation. Every life that rises does so because unseen hands have lifted it, and every triumph is the fruit not of one will alone, but of many who gave guidance, encouragement, and opportunity.

The meaning of this truth is sharp and humbling. The myth of the “self-made” man, so often celebrated in stories, ignores the hidden network of support that makes success possible. The parent who labors silently, the teacher who inspires belief, the friend or stranger who opens a door—these are the roots beneath the tree of accomplishment. Marshall teaches us that to deny these influences is arrogance, but to acknowledge them is gratitude, and gratitude itself is the seed of wisdom.

Consider Marshall’s own life. Born into a segregated America, his path to the Supreme Court was not laid in ease. He was carried forward by the sacrifices of his family, who prized education even when opportunities were scarce. He was lifted by teachers at Howard University, who trained him not only in law but in courage. He was supported by mentors like Charles Hamilton Houston, who armed him with vision and discipline. Without these helpers, Marshall’s fire might have burned alone; with them, it became the torch that lit the way for civil rights.

History offers another witness in the story of Frederick Douglass, who escaped slavery and became one of the greatest orators of his age. Though he possessed a mighty will, his growth was shaped by others—the kind mistress who first taught him letters, the abolitionists who opened their platforms to his voice, the allies who funded his freedom. Douglass himself confessed that his rise was not the triumph of one man, but the fruit of countless acts of aid. His story, like Marshall’s, embodies the truth: we are carried forward not only by our strength, but by the hands that reach for us.

The lesson is both humbling and empowering. Humbling, because it reminds us that no one climbs alone. We must cast away the pride that says, “I did this myself.” Empowering, because it shows us that every small act of help can change a destiny. The teacher’s encouragement, the friend’s loyalty, the parent’s sacrifice—these simple deeds are the invisible engines of greatness. To help another pick up their boots is to help them walk the path to a higher future.

O children of tomorrow, remember this: if you have risen, give thanks for those who bent down for you. And if you see another struggling, do not scorn them for weakness—bend down, and help them lift their boots. For what you give today may return as greatness tomorrow. The world is not advanced by the pride of individuals, but by the chain of compassion that binds one generation to the next.

Therefore, let your practice be this: honor your mentors, teachers, parents, and friends. Speak their names, remember their sacrifices. And in your own life, be for others what they were for you. Open doors, give encouragement, offer strength. For in lifting others, you also secure the future, and in helping another wear their boots, you strengthen the whole journey of humanity.

Thus Marshall’s words endure as a beacon of humility and justice: “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps… somebody… helped us pick up our boots.” Let them remind you that no success is solitary, and that the greatest honor you can give to those who helped you is to become that helper for others. In this, you live not only for yourself, but for the eternal community of mankind.