You’ve probably seen the Pinterest graphics. They feature a sepia-toned woman—often actually a photo of the sculptor Edmonia Lewis, by the way—with a profound, modern-sounding quote about "following your dreams" or "breaking glass ceilings." It makes for a great Instagram story. The problem? Most of those Sarah E. Goode quotes are complete fiction.
Honestly, finding the real voice of Sarah E. Goode is like trying to hear a whisper in a thunderstorm. She was born into slavery in 1850. She became an entrepreneur in Chicago when the ink on the Emancipation Proclamation was barely dry. She was the first, or one of the first, Black women to ever secure a U.S. patent. But she didn’t leave behind a memoir. She didn't have a Twitter feed.
When you search for her "quotes," what you’re usually finding is a collection of sentiments attributed to her by modern children's book authors or well-meaning bloggers. It’s frustrating. But if we look at her patent application and the few historical records that exist, we can actually find her real words—and they are much more practical, gritty, and business-minded than the "inspirational" stuff you see online.
The Mystery of the Missing Quotes
Why is it so hard to find an actual transcript of her speaking?
Think about the time. 1885. Chicago. Sarah and her husband, Archibald, ran a furniture store on the city's South Side. She wasn't a public orator; she was a business owner solving a logistical nightmare. Her customers were poor and living in cramped tenement apartments. They needed a bed, but they also needed a desk, and they definitely didn't have room for both.
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Most of what is "quoted" today is actually paraphrased from her patent description. We don't have a diary. We don't have letters. We have Patent No. 322,177.
Historians like those at BlackPast and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office emphasize that Sarah’s "voice" exists in her blueprints. She spoke through the mechanics of hinges and "woven-wire springs."
The Real Words of Sarah E. Goode
If you want the authentic Sarah E. Goode, you have to look at her 1885 patent for the "Cabinet-Bed." In the official filing, she describes her invention with the precision of a master craftsman. This isn't flowery poetry. It’s the language of a woman who knew exactly how to build something.
She wrote that her invention relates to:
"...that class of sectional bedsteads adapted to be folded together when not in use, so as to occupy less space, and made generally to resemble some article of furniture when so folded."
She went on to define the specific goals of her design:
"The objects of this invention are, first, to provide a folding bed of novel construction, adapted, when folded together, to form a desk suitable for office or general use; second, to provide for counterbalancing the weight of the folding sections of the bed, so that they may be easily raised or lowered..."
It’s not "inspirational" in the Hallmark sense. But honestly? It’s more impressive. These words prove she understood physics, mechanical engineering, and market demand. She wasn't just "dreaming"—she was calculating.
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Why the Fake Quotes are a Problem
We live in an era where we want our heroes to sound like us. We want Sarah E. Goode to say things like, "Believe in yourself even when the world doesn't."
But Sarah lived through the Fugitive Slave Act. She lived through the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. She didn't need to be told to "believe in herself"—she was too busy surviving and building a literal empire from wood and springs.
When we attribute modern, fluffy quotes to her, we kinda diminish the actual technical genius she possessed. She was a Black woman in the 19th century filing legal paperwork with the federal government. That required a specific type of cold, hard literacy and a terrifying amount of "bravery" that a simple quote about "imagination" doesn't quite capture.
The "Dreams" Misconception
You'll often see a quote attributed to her that says: "Every invention starts with a thought in your imagination." There is zero historical evidence she ever said this.
It actually comes from an animated educational film for children. While the sentiment is nice, it’s a modern script. Sarah’s actual "thought" was likely: "My customers can't fit a bed in a 10x10 room, so I'm going to build a bed that hides in a desk." That is the essence of business. Identifying a pain point and solving it.
The Real Legacy (Not Just Words)
Sarah’s life changed after 1885. Or maybe it didn't.
Record-keeping for Black women in the late 1800s was spotty at best. We know she died in 1905. We know her invention paved the way for the Murphy Bed. But the most powerful "quote" she ever left was the signature on her patent.
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At a time when many formerly enslaved people were still forced to sign documents with an "X," Sarah E. Goode signed her name. That signature was a declaration. It said she owned her ideas. It said she was a citizen with rights to her own intellectual property.
How to Use Her Story Authentically
If you're writing a report or a social media post and you want to honor her, stop looking for a catchy one-liner. Instead, use the facts of her work:
- Focus on the Problem: She listened to her customers. Great business starts with listening.
- Highlight the Technical: Mention the "counterbalancing weights" and "hinged sections." Show that she was a technical mind.
- The Signature: Talk about the power of her name on that document in 1885.
Actionable Next Steps for Researchers
If you’re looking for more "voice" from this era, stop Googling "quotes" and start looking at primary sources.
- Access the Patent: Search Google Patents for US322177A. Read her actual technical descriptions. They are the only verified words we have.
- Verify the Image: If you see a photo of a woman in a high-collared Victorian dress labeled as Sarah E. Goode, check it against Edmonia Lewis. Most "Goode" photos are actually Lewis.
- Contextualize: Read about the Chicago Furniture Trade in the 1880s. Understanding the world she lived in tells you more than a fake quote ever will.
Sarah E. Goode doesn't need us to put modern words in her mouth. Her invention—the precursor to the space-saving furniture we all use in tiny apartments today—speaks plenty for itself. She was a builder. Let her legacy be the things she built.