We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The best books for a man are not always those which the wise recommend, but often those which meet the peculiar wants, the natural thirst of his mind, and therefore awaken interest and rivet thought.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The mind, in proportion as it is cut off from free communication with nature, with revelation, with God, with itself, loses its life, just as the body droops when debarred from the air and the cheering light from heaven.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
We need not war to awaken human energy. There is at least equal scope for courage and magnanimity in blessing, as in destroying mankind. The condition of the human race offers inexhaustible objects for enterprise, and fortitude, and magnanimity.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Great minds are to make others great. Their superiority is to be used, not to break the multitude to intellectual vassalage, not to establish over them a spiritual tyranny, but to rouse them from lethargy, and to aidthem to judge for themselves.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Great minds are to make others great. Their superiority is to be used, not to break the multitude to intellectual vassalage, not to establish over them a spiritual tyranny, but to rouse them from lethargy, and to aid them to judge for themselves.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
To be prosperous is not to be superior, and should form no barrier between men. Wealth out not to secure the prosperous the slightest consideration. The only distinctions which should be recognized are those of the soul, of strong principle, of incorruptible integrity, of usefulness, of cultivated intellect, of fidelity in seeking the truth.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich, to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common, this is to be my symphony.
quote by William Ellery Channing
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!