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James Russell Lowell Quotes - Page 11

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Men's thoughts and opinions are in a great degree vassals of him who invents a new phrase or re-applies an old epithet. The thought or feeling a thousand times repeated becomes his at last who utters it best.

Men's thoughts and opinions are in a great degree vassals of him who invents a new phrase or re-applies an old epithet. The thought or feeling a thousand times repeated becomes his at last who utters it best.

James Russell Lowell
Men, Feelings, Degrees
James Russell Lowell (1870). “Among My Books: First [-second] series”, p.326

I would hardly change the sorrowful words of the poets for their glad ones. Tears dampen the strings of the lyre, but they grow the tensor for it, and ring even the clearer and more ravishingly.

James Russell Lowell
Tears, Poet, Strings

A sneer is the weapon of the weak.

James Russell Lowell
Criticism, Weapons, Weak
James Russell Lowell (1845). “Conversations on Some of the Old Poets”, p.56

But better far it is to speak One simple word, which now and then Shall waken their free nature in the weak And friendless sons of men.

James Russell Lowell
Sympathy, Son, Simple
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.40

It is right precious to behold The first long surf of climbing light Flood all the thirsty east with gold.

James Russell Lowell
Light, Climbing, Long
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.78

AND what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays; Whether we look, or whether we listen, We hear life murmur, or see it glisten.

James Russell Lowell
Summer, June, Perfect Days
James Russell Lowell (2012). “The Vision of Sir Launfal And Other Poems by James Russell Lowell, Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Julian W. Abernethy, PH.D.”, p.56, tredition

Though old the thought and oft exprest, Tis his at last who says it best.

James Russell Lowell
Writing, Lasts
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.639, Delphi Classics

There is a law of neutralization of forces, which hinders bodies from sinking beyond a certain depth in the sea; but in the ocean of baseness, the deeper we get, the easier the sinking.

James Russell Lowell
Ocean, Sea, Law
James Russell Lowell (1845). “Conversations on Some of the Old Poets”, p.62

At the devil's booth are all things sold. Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold.

James Russell Lowell
Devil, Gold, Cost
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.282, Delphi Classics

No sincere desire of doing good need make an enemy of a single human being; that philanthropy has surely a flaw in it which cannot sympathize with the oppressor equally as with the oppressed.

James Russell Lowell
Enemy, Desire, Needs
James Russell Lowell (1844). “Poems”

Some kind of pace may be got out of the eeriest jade by the near prospect of oats; but the thoroughbred has the spur in his blood.

James Russell Lowell
Oats, Blood, Spurs

If youth be a defect, it is one that we outgrow only too soon.

James Russell Lowell
Time, Literature, Youth
James Russell Lowell (1897). “The Writings of James Russell Lowell in Prose and Poetry ...”

In life's small things be resolute and great To keep thy muscle trained; Know'st thou when Fate Thy measure takes, or when she'll say to thee, "I find thee worthy; do this deed for me?"

James Russell Lowell
Life, Time, Fate
James Russell Lowell, Charles Eliot Norton (1904). “The poetical works”

'Tis sorrow builds the shining ladder up, Whose golden rounds are our calamities, Whereon our firm feet planting, nearer God The spirit climbs, and hath its eyes unsealed. True it is that Death's face seems stern and cold When he is sent to summon those we love; But all God's angels come to us disguised; Sorrow and sickness, poverty and death, One after another, lift their frowning masks, And we behold the Seraph's face beneath, All radiant with the Glory and the calm Of having looked upon the front of God.

James Russell Lowell
Love, Eye, Angel

It seems to me that the bane of our country is a profession of faith either with no basis of real belief, or with no proper examination of the grounds on which the creed is supposed to rest.

James Russell Lowell
Country, Real, Atheism
James Russell Lowell, Charles Eliot Norton (1904). “The Complete Writings of James Russell Lowell: Letters”

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

James Russell Lowell
Running, Long, People
James Russell Lowell (1910). “Literary and political addresses”

It is the privilege of genius that life never grows common place, as it does for the rest of us.

James Russell Lowell
Doe, Genius, Literature

All birds during the pairing season become more or less sentimental, and murmur soft nothings in a tone very unlike the grinding-organ repetition and loudness of their habitual song. The crow is very comical as a lover; and to hear him trying to soften his croak to the proper Saint-Preux standard has something the effect of a Mississippi boatman quoting Tennyson.

James Russell Lowell
Song, Bird, Crow
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.1661, Delphi Classics

Get but the truth once uttered, and 'tis like A star new-born that drops into its place And which, once circling in its placid round, Not all the tumult of the earth can shake.

James Russell Lowell
Stars, Truth, Earth
James Russell Lowell (1844). “Poems”, p.175

Truth only needs to be for once spoken out; and there's such music in her, such strange rhythm, as makes men's memories her joyous slaves.

James Russell Lowell
Truth, Memories, Men
James Russell Lowell, “A Glance Behind The Curtain”

Truth always has a bewitching savor of newness in it, and novelty at the first taste recalls that original sweetness to the tongue; but alas for him who would make the one a substitute for the other.

James Russell Lowell
Truth, Taste, Tongue
James Russell Lowell (1871). “My Study Windows”, p.107

The surest plan to make a man is, think him so.

James Russell Lowell
Destiny, Men, Thinking
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.530, Delphi Classics

There is only one thing better than tradition and that is the original and eternal life out of which all tradition takes its rise.

James Russell Lowell
Tradition, Eternal Life, Originals
James Russell Lowell (1871). “My Study Windows”, p.146

There are two kinds of weakness, that which breaks and that which bends.

James Russell Lowell
Destiny, Two, Weakness
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.1204, Delphi Classics

God is the only being who has time enough; but a prudent man, who knows how to seize occasion, can commonly make a shift to find as much as he needs.

James Russell Lowell
Time, Men, Needs
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.1776, Delphi Classics

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