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
heart forget-everything childhood
It is only the intellect that can be thoroughly and hideously wicked. It can forget everything in the attainment of its ends. The heart recoils; in its retired some drops of childhood's dew still linger, defying manhood's fiery noon.
speech
In general those who nothing have to say Contrive to spend the longest time in doing it.
failing intellect conscience
The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.
firefly air tiny
Tiny Salmoneus of the air His mimic bolts the firefly threw.
heart errors balance
God does not weigh criminality in our scales. We have one absolute, with the seal of authority upon it; and with us an ounce is an ounce, and a pound a pound. God's measure is the heart of the offender,--a balance which varies with every one of us, a balance so delicate that a tear cast in the other side may make the weight of error kick the beam.
memories home gunpowder
Metaphor is no argument, though it be sometimes the gunpowder to drive one home, and imbed it in the memory.
ruins moral supremacy
Moral supremacy is the only one that leaves monuments, and not ruins, behind it.
plagiarism garments warm
Borrowed garments never keep one warm.
men may ruins
It is singular how impatient men are with overpraise of others, how patient of overpraise of themselves; and yet the one does them no injury, while the other may be their ruin.
motivation intention invention
For there's nothing we read of in torture's inventions, Like a well-meaning dunce, with the best of intentions.
flower glowing tree
Here come the hum the golden bees Underneath full blossomed trees, At once with glowing fruit and flowers crowned.
wise country war
Certainly it is no shame to a man that he should be as nice about his country as his sweetheart, yet it would not be wise to hold everyone an enemy who could not see her with our own enchanted eyes.
moon pearls bed
These pearls of thought in Persian gulfs were bred, Each softly lucent as a rounded moon; The diver Omar plucked them from their bed, Fitzgerald strung them on an English thread.
fool planets results
The ultimate result of protecting fools from their folly is to fill the planet full of fools.