Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRSwas a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer. Known for his vigorous support for the Salem witch trials, he also left a scientific legacy due to his hybridization experiments and his promotion of inoculation for disease prevention. He was subsequently denied the Presidency of Harvard College which his father, Increase, had held...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionReligious Leader
Date of Birth12 February 1663
CityBoston, MA
CountryUnited States of America
You may ... make a little recreation of poetry, in the midst of your painful studies. Nevertheless, I cannot but advise you. Withhold thy throat from thirst. Be not so set upon poetry, as to be always poring on the passionate and measured pages. ... let not the Circean cup intoxicate you.
Families are the Nurseries of all Societies; and the First combinations of mankind.
History is the story of events, with praise or blame.
You are young and have the world before you; stoop as you go through it, and you will miss many hard bumps.
Wilderness is a temporary condition through which we are passing to the Promised Land.
Ignorance is the Mother not of Devotion, but of Heresy.
That there is a Devil, is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influences of the Devil.
The Word of God must be Read and Heard with Diligence that so you may arrive to the Knowledge that is needful for you.
Ah! destructive Ignorance, what shall be done to chase thee out of the World!
Religion brought forth Prosperity, and the daughter destroyed the mother.
There may be some so very Ignorant, that they know not how to Pray.
The Spirit of Slumber which the Poison of the old Serpent has brought upon the children of Men is to be deplored exceedingly.