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Robert Charles Winthrop Quotes

There are no points of the compass on the chart of true patriotism.

There are no points of the compass on the chart of true patriotism.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Memorial Day, Military, Patriotism
Letter to Boston Commercial Club, 1879.

The noblest contribution which any man can make for the benefit of posterity, is that of character. The richest bequest which any man can leave to the youth of his native land, is that of a shining, spotless example.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Character, Men, Land
Robert Charles Winthrop (1852). “Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions: 1835-1851”, p.132

The poor must be wisely visited and liberally cared for, so that mendicity shall not be tempted into mendacity, nor want exasperated into crime.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Caring, Temptation, Want
Robert Charles Winthrop (1886). “Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions: 1878-1886”

Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freemen with votes in their hands are left without education. Justice to them, the welfare of the States in which they live, the safety of the whole Republic, the dignity of the elective franchise, - all alike demand that the still remaining bonds of ignorance shall be unloosed and broken, and the minds as well as the bodies of the emancipated go free.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Ignorance, Hands, Justice
Robert Charles Winthrop (1886). “Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions: 1878-1886”

In what region of the earth ever so remote from us, in what corner of creation ever so far out of the range of our communication, does not some burden lightened, some bond loosened, some yoke lifted, some labor better remunerated, some new hope for despairing hearts, some new light or new liberty for the benighted or the oppressed, bear witness this day, and trace itself, directly or indirectly, back to the impulse given to the world by the successful establishment and operation of free institutions on this American continent?

Robert Charles Winthrop
Communication, Heart, Successful
Robert Charles Winthrop (1878). “Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions: 1869-1879 [i.e. 1878”

A star for every State, and a State for every star.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Stars, States
Speech on Boston Common, 27 August 1862

Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands are left without education.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Education, Hands, Half

Without Virginia, as we must all acknowledge--without her Patrick Henry among the people, her Lees and Jefferson in the forum, and her Washington in the field--I will not say that the cause of American liberty and American independence must have been ultimately defeated--no, no, there was no ultimate defeat for that cause in the decrees of the Most High; but it must have been delayed, postponed, perplexed, and to many eyes and hearts rendered seemingly hopeless.

Robert Charles Winthrop
Heart, Eye, Virginia
Robert Charles Winthrop (1876). “Oration on the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: Delivered in the Music Hall, at the Request of the City Government, Boston, 4 July, 1876”, p.22

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