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James Russell Lowell Quotes - Page 7

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The path of nature is, indeed, a narrow one, and it is only the immortals that seek it, and, when they find it, do not find themselves cramped therein.

The path of nature is, indeed, a narrow one, and it is only the immortals that seek it, and, when they find it, do not find themselves cramped therein.

James Russell Lowell
Nature, Path
James Russell Lowell (1870). “Among My Books”, p.174

But civlyzation doos git forrid Sometimes upon a powder-cart.

James Russell Lowell
Sometimes, Powder, Carts
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.208

Not a deed would he do, Not a word would he utter, Till he's weighed its relation To plain bread and butter.

James Russell Lowell
Food, Cooking, Deeds

Among the lessons taught by the French revolution, there is none sadder or more striking than this--that you may make everything else out of the passions of men except a political system that will work, and that there is nothing so pitilessly and unconsciously cruel as sincerity formulated into dogma.

James Russell Lowell
Passion, Men, Political
James Russell Lowell (2015). “Abraham Lincoln”, p.10, Sheba Blake Publishing

Fate loves best such syllables as are sweet and sonorous on the tongue.

James Russell Lowell
Sweet, Fate, Love Is
John Keats, James Russell Lowell (1854). “The Poetical Works of John Keats: With a Life”, p.17

The ash her purple drops forgivingly And sadly, breaking not the general hush; The maple swamps glow like a sunset sea, Each leaf a ripple with its separate flush; All round the wood's edge creeps the skirting blaze, Ere the rain falls, the cautious farmer burns his brush.

James Russell Lowell
Fall, Rain, Sunset
James Russell Lowell (2012). “The Vision of Sir Launfal And Other Poems by James Russell Lowell, With a Biographical Sketch and Notes, a Portrait and Other Illustrations”, p.70, tredition

Attention is the stuff that memory is made of, and memory is accumulated genius.

James Russell Lowell
Memories, Attention, Genius
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.595, Delphi Classics

What a man pays for bread and butter is worth its market value, and no more. What he pays for love's sake is gold indeed, which has a lure for angels' eyes, and rings well upon God's touchstone.

James Russell Lowell
Love, Eye, Angel
James Russell Lowell (1845). “Conversations on Some of the Old Poets”, p.55

One of the things particularly admirable in the public utterances of President Lincoln is a certain tone of familiar dignity, which, while it is perhaps the most difficult attainment of mere style, is also no doubtful indication of personal character. There must be something essentially noble in an elective ruler who can descend to the level of confidential ease without forfeiting respect, something very manly in one who can break through the etiquette of his conventional rank and trust himself to the reason and intelligence of those who have elected him.

James Russell Lowell
Character, Break Through, Style
James Russell Lowell (2015). “Abraham Lincoln”, p.22, Sheba Blake Publishing

With every anguish of our earthly part The spirit's sight grows clearer.

James Russell Lowell
Sight, Spirit, Grows
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.87

It may be conjectured that it is cheaper in the long run to lift men up than to hold them down, and that the ballot in their hands is less dangerous to society than a sense of wrong is in their heads.

James Russell Lowell
Running, Men, Hands
James Russell Lowell (1910). “Essays, English and American”

I who still pray at morning and at eve Thrice in my life perhaps have truly prayed, Thrice stirred below conscious self Have felt that perfect disenthrallment which is God.

James Russell Lowell
Morning, Self, Perfect

To put more faith in lies and hate than truth and love, is the true atheism.

James Russell Lowell
Hate, Lying, Love Is
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.111

Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their transmortal El Dorado. Sancho Panza will not quit his chimney-corner, but under promise of imaginary islands to govern.

James Russell Lowell
Islands, Promise, Religion
James Russell Lowell (1845). “Conversations on Some of the Old Poets”, p.109

Tis easy now for the heart to be true As for grass to be green or skies to be blue-- 'Tis the natural way of living.

James Russell Lowell
Heart, Blue, Sky
James Russell Lowell (1861). “Poetical Works”, p.3

Our seasons have no fixed returns, Without our will they come and go; At noon our sudden summer burns, Ere sunset all is snow.

James Russell Lowell
Summer, Sunset, Snow
James Russell Lowell (1871). “The poetical works of James Russell Lowell”, p.98

I tell ye wut, my judgment is you're pooty sure to fail, Ez long 'z the head keeps turnin' back for counsel to the the tail.

James Russell Lowell
Failure, Long, Tails
James Russell Lowell (1876). “The Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell”, p.256

He gives us the very quintessence of perception,-the clearly crystalized precipitation of all that is most precious in the ferment of impression after the impertinent and obtrusive particulars have evaporated from the memory.

James Russell Lowell
Memories, Giving, Perception
James Russell Lowell (1890). “The Writings of James Russell Lowell in Ten Volumes: Literary and political addresses”

Piety is indifferent whether she enters at the eye or at the ear. There is none of the senses at which she does not knock one day or other. The Puritans forgot this, and thrust Beauty out of the meeting-house and slammed the door in her face.

James Russell Lowell
Eye, Doors, House
James Russell Lowell (1845). “Conversations on Some of the Old Poets”, p.76

Worshippers of light ancestral make the present light a crime.

James Russell Lowell
Light, Tradition, Crime
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.190, Delphi Classics

From lower to the higher next, Not to the top, is Nature's text; And embryo Good, to reach full stature, Absorbs the Evil in its nature.

James Russell Lowell
Evil, Next, Embryos
James Russell Lowell (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)”, p.548, Delphi Classics

Many make the household but only one the home.

James Russell Lowell
Home, Household
James Russell Lowell (1873). “The Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell”, p.397

The course of a great statesman resembles that of navigable rivers, avoiding immovable obstacles with noble bends of concession, seeking the broad levels of opinion on which men soonest settle and longest dwell, following and marking the almost imperceptible slopes of national tendency, yet always aiming at direct advances, always recruited from sources nearer heaven, and sometimes bursting open paths of progress and fruitful human commerce through what seem the eternal barriers of both.

James Russell Lowell
Men, Rivers, Heaven
James Russell Lowell (1871). “My Study Windows”, p.166

There is surely room for yet another schoolmaster when a score of seers advertise themselves in Boston newspapers.

James Russell Lowell
Boston, Rooms, Newspapers
James Russell Lowell (1857). “Literary essays; Among my books, My study windows, Fireside travels”, p.397

Before Man made us citizens, great Nature made us men.

James Russell Lowell
Nature, Men, Citizens
'On the Capture of Fugitive Slaves' (1854)

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