Life for a slave was one of misery and despair. Slaves were treated as property by their masters, often living in cramped quarters with other slaves, going without adequate clothing or nutrition, and being subjected to frequent physical abuse. Douglass was no stranger to this treatment. He endured the harsh discipline of his masters, the humiliation of being separated from family members and loved ones, and even attempted several escape attempts before eventually succeeding. All through this experience he learned valuable lessons about life that would later help him in his struggle for freedom.