Quotes from Lydia M. Child

The eye of genius has always a plaintive expression, and its natural language is pathos.

I was gravely warned by some of my female acquaintances that no woman could expect to be regarded as a lady after she had written a book.

But men never violate the laws of God without suffering the consequences, sooner or later.

The boughs of no two trees ever have the same arrangement. Nature always produces individuals; She never produces classes.

Birds and beasts have in fact our own nature, flattened a semi-tone.

Philosophy and the arts are but a manifestation of the intelligible ideas that move the public mind; and thus they become visible images of the nations whence they emanate.

I think we have reason to thank God for Abraham Lincoln. With all his deficiencies, it must be admitted that he has grown continually.

the excess of all good things is mischievous.

No music is so pleasant to my ears as that word-father.

[U]sefulness is happiness, and... all other things are but incidental.

Thy treasures of gold Are dim with the blood of the hearts thou hast sold; Thy home may be lovely, but round it I hear The crack of the whip, and the footsteps of fear.

Love is the divine quality that everywhere produces and restores life. To each and every one of us, it gives the power of working miracles if we will.

Genius hath electric power which earth can never tame.

Genius hath electric power; Which earth can never tame; Bright suns may scorch and dark clouds lower; Its flash is still the same.

It is right noble to fight with wickedness and wrong; the mistake is in supposing that spiritual evil can be overcome by physical means.

You find yourself refreshed in the presence of cheerful people. Why not make an honest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.

Home - that blessed word, which opens to the human heart the most perfect glimpse of Heaven, and helps to carry it thither, as on an angel's wings.

Whoso does not see that genuine life is a battle and a march has poorly read his origin and his destiny.

We must not forget that all great revolutions and reformations would look mean and meagre if examined in detail as they occurred at the time.

Childhood itself is scarcely more lovely than a cheerful, kindly, sunshiny old age.

I keep working because I am quite sure that no particle of goodness or truth is ever really lost, however appearances may be to the contrary.

Every man deems that he has precisely the trials and temptations which are the hardest of all others for him to bear; but they are so, simply because they are the very ones he most needs.

You will find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others?...Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.

Pillars are fallen at thy feet Fanes quiver in the air A prostrate city is thy seat And thou alone art there.