Quotes from James Russell Lowell

Stern men with empires in their brains.

What men prize most is a privilege, even if it be that of chief mourner at a funeral.

[B]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own.

Sincerity is impossible, unless it pervade the whole being, and the pretence of it saps the very foundation of character.

Not as all other women are Is she that to my soul is dear; Her glorious fancies come from far, Beneath the silver evening star, And yet her heart is ever near.

Laborin' man an' laborin' woman Hev one glory an' one shame; Ev'y thin' thet' s done inhuman Injers all on 'em the same.

...Long, sparkling aisles of steel-stemmed trees Bending to counterfeit a breeze...

We kind o' thought Christ went agin war and pillage...

Es fer war, I call it murder,— There you hev it, plain an' flat; I don't want to go no furder Than my Testyment fer that; God hez sed so, plump an' fairly, It's ez long ez it is broad, An' you've gut to git up airly Ef you want to take in God.

There is nothing so desperately monotonous as the sea, and I no longer wonder at the cruelty of pirates.

On Lincoln: A profound common sense is the best genius for statesmanship.

There is no better ballast for keeping the mind steady on its keel, and saving it from all risk of crankiness, than business.

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, thy bleeding feet we track Toiling up new Calv'ries ever with the cross that turns not back New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth We must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth

Kesombongan dan kelemahan adalah kembar siam.

In general those who nothing have to say Contrive to spend the longest time in doing it.

The surest plan to make a Man Is, think him so.

Puritanism, believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, without knowing it, the egg of democracy.

It was in making education not only common to all, but in some sense compulsory on all, that the destiny of the free republics of America was practically settled.

A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.

There was no beauty of the wood or field But she its fragrant bosom-secret knew, Nor any but to her would freely yield Some grace that in her soul took root and grew; Nature to her shone as but now revealed, All rosy-fresh with innocent morning dew, And looked into her heart with dim, sweet eyes That left it full of sylvan memories.

He chooses his language for its rich canorousness rather than for intensity of meaning.

of courage and security from every sod of it would have evaporated beyond recall. We should be irrevocably cut

Who speaks the truth stabs Falsehood to the heart.

En general, quienes no tienen nada que decir invierten el mayor tiempo posible en no decir nada.