Amos Bronson Alcott Quotes - Page 3

Fullness is always quiet; agitation will answer for empty vessels only.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-trust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciples.

Wherever comes man comes tragedy and comedy also.

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.

Debate is angular, conversation circular and radiant of the underlying unity.

As education becomes inclusive, introspective, cosmic, promoting whole populations to power and privilege, it enthrones a vast, invisible, personal rule over the common mind.

Man is a living lie--a bitter jest Upon himself--a conscious grain of sand Lost in a desert of unconsciousness.

Where women are, the better things are implied if not spoken.

Dignity of manner always conveys a sense of reserved force.

Every noble life becomes a revelation of the spirit which the love and joy of mankind cannot let perish from remembrance.

There are truths that shield themselves behind veils, and are best spoken by implication. Even the sun veils himself in his own rays to blind the gaze of the too curious starer.

Sloth is the tempter that beguiles and expels from paradise.

Life is one, religion one, creeds are many and diverse.

Despair snuffs the sun from the firmament.

Anger is the resentment of the animal, and gentle blood alone makes the gentleman.

A chaste generation would restore Paradise.

Like birds of passage, the instincts drift the soul adventurously beyond the horizon of sensible things, as if intent on convoying it to the mother country from whence it had flown.

Love is the key to felicity, nor is there a heaven to any who love not. We enter Paradise through its gates only.

Inspiration must find answering inspiration.

Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams.

A work of real merit finds favor at last.

The history of books shows the humblest origin of some of the most valued, wrought as these were out of obscure materials by persons whose names thereafter became illustrious. The thumbed volumes, now so precious to thousands, were compiled from personal experiences and owe their interest to touches of inspiration of which the writer was less author than amanuensis, himself the voiced word of life for all times.

Creeds, like other goods, pass by inheritance to descendants.

Our notion of the perfect society embraces the family as its center and ornament, and this paradise is not secure until children appear to animate and complete the picture.

If the ancients left us ideas, to our credit be it spoken that we moderns are building houses for them -- structures which neither Plato nor Archimedes had dreamed possible.