Amos Bronson Alcott
Amos Bronson Alcott
Amos Bronson Alcottwas an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. As an educator, Alcott pioneered new ways of interacting with young students, focusing on a conversational style, and avoided traditional punishment. He hoped to perfect the human spirit and, to that end, advocated a vegan diet before the term was coined. He was also an abolitionist and an advocate for women's rights...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionEducator
Date of Birth29 November 1799
CountryUnited States of America
Nor do we accept, as genuine the person not characterized by this blushing bashfulness, this youthfulness of heart, this sensibility to the sentiment of suavity and self-respect. Modesty is bred of self-reverence. Fine manners are the mantle of fair minds. None are truly great without this ornament.
The history of religions, of which Christianity is a transcendent element, awaits the deepest study. It requires Bibles to free from Bibles. Comparative theology is the best of studies for liberating one's mind from geographical and traditional limitations. Like travelling, it shows the globe in its varying climates and zones, its latitude and longitude of intelligence. When the races shall have learned each other's language, the significance of things to thoughts, one faith becomes universal, one brotherhood.
Who speaks to the instincts speaks to the deepest in mankind, and finds the readiest response.
Modesty is bred of self-reverence. Fine manners are the mantle of fair minds.
The richest minds need not large libraries.
Books are the most mannerly of companions, accessible at all times, in all moods, frankly declaring the author's mind, without offense.
The mind is fast emancipating itself from the dominion of man and of matter. It has let loose fearful forces on the world.
The traveled mind is the catholic mind educated from exclusiveness and egotism.
As education becomes inclusive, introspective, cosmic, promoting whole populations to power and privilege, it enthrones a vast, invisible, personal rule over the common mind.
A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.
Egotists cannot converse, they talk to themselves only.
The fable runs that the gods mix our pains and pleasure in one cup, and thus mingle for us the adulterate immortality which we alone are permitted here to enjoy. Voluptuous raptures, could we prolong these at pleasure, would dissipate and dissolve us. A sip is the most that mortals are permitted from any goblet of delight.
Truth is inclusive of all the virtues, is older than sects and schools, and, like charity, more ancient than mankind.
A candid spirit is mightier than the most persistent dogmatism.