James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowellwas an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets who rivaled the popularity of British poets. These poets usually used conventional forms and meters in their poetry, making them suitable for families entertaining at their fireside...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth22 February 1819
CountryUnited States of America
James Russell Lowell quotes about
destiny men work-out
The future works out great men's destinies; The present is enough for common souls, Who, never looking forward, are indeed Mere clay wherein the footprints of their age Are petrified forever.
shadow breaking-silence watches
Behind the dim unknown, Standeth God with the shadow, keeping watch above his own.
food deeds bread
Not a deed would he do, Not a word would he utter, Till he's weighed its relation To plain bread and butter.
time queens brain
Whoever can endure unmixed delight, whoever can tolerate music and painting and poetry all in one, whoever wishes to be rid of thought and to let the busy anvils of the brain be silent for a time, let him read in the "Faery Queen."
stars writing sight
It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight Once in a century.
sides argument aspiration
Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession many.
truth men light
Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight, And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.
religious believe eggs
Puritanism, believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, without knowing it, the egg of democracy.
running heart blessing
Better to me the poor mans crust, Better the blessing of the poor, Though I turn me empty from his door; That is no true alms which the hand can hold; He gives nothing but worthless gold Who gives from a sense of duty; But he who gives a slender mite, And gives to that which is out of sight, That thread of the all-sustaining Beauty Which runs through all and doth all unite, - The hand cannot clasp the whole of his alms, The heart outstretches its eager palms, For a god goes with it and makes it store To the soul that was starving in darkness before.
reading eye voice
Reading enables us to see with the keenest eyes, to hear with the finest ears, and listen to the sweetest voices of all time.
heart pity
His heart kep' goin' pity-pat, But hern went pity-Zekle.
fate simple men
The wisest man could ask no more of fate Than to be simple, modest, manly, true, Safe from the many, honored by the few; Nothing to court in Church, or World, or State, But inwardly in secret to be great.
night white snow
The snow had begun in the gloaming, and busily all the night had been heaping field and highway with a silence deep and white.
happiness heart gods-will
Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it; We are happy now because God wills it.