James F. Cooper
James F. Cooper
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth15 September 1789
CountryUnited States of America
taught-us justice sublime
Christ , in the parable of the vine dressers, has taught us a sublime lesson of justice, by showing that to the things which are not our own, we can have no just claim.
art people ignorant
The Americans ... are almost ignorant of the art of music, one of the most elevating, innocent and refining of human tastes, whose influence on the habits and morals of a people is of the most beneficial tendency.
aim citizen freedom happiness individuality leaving left means order political pursue render rights truly
Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order and the rights of others, the institutions render him truly a freeman. He is left to pursue his means of happiness in his own manner.
american-novelist exhibit form masses men public substitute usual vice
It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.
apt aspect assumes effects events fancy far history human imagination incidents lived produce seen travelled
On the human imagination events produce the effects of time. Thus, he who has travelled far and seen much is apt to fancy that he has lived long; and the history that most abounds in important incidents soonest assumes the aspect of antiquity.
advantage character elevation general people principal
The principal advantage of a democracy, is a general elevation in the character of the people
advice debt young
Advice is not a gift, but a debt that the old owe to the young.
humility passion men
The demagogue is usually sly, a detractor of others, a professor of humility and disinterestedness, a great stickler for equality as respects all above him, a man who acts in corners, and avoids open and manly expositions of his course, calls blackguards gentlemen, and gentlemen folks, appeals to passions and prejudices rather than to reason, and is in all respects, a man of intrigue and deception, of sly cunning and management.
war marine important
At no period of the naval history of the world, is it probable that Marines were more important than during the War of the Revolution,
appreciated exception particular
Systems are to be appreciated by their general effects, and not by particular exceptions.
ocean novices indifference
The expanse of the ocean is seldom seen by the novice with indifference.
dark men skins
Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners, and that his skin is dark?
civilization rights inseparable
If we would have civilization and the exertion indispensable to its success, we must have property; if we have property, we must have its rights; if we have the rights of property, we must take those consequences of the rights of property which are inseparable from the rights themselves.
christian lying school
In America the taint of sectarianism lies broad upon the land. Not content with acknowledging the supremacy as the Diety, and with erecting temples in his honor, where all can bow down with reverence, the pride and vanity of human reason enter into and pollute our worship, and the houses that should be of God and for God, alone, where he is to be honored with submissive faith, are too often merely schools of metaphysical and useless distinctions. The nation is sectarian, rather than Christian.