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
age needs poet
A poet must need be before his own age, to be even with posterity
giving needs three
The Holy Supper is kept, indeed, In whatso we share with anothers need; Not what we give, but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare; Who gives himself with his alms feeds three, Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me.
enemy desire needs
No sincere desire of doing good need make an enemy of a single human being; that philanthropy has surely a flaw in it which cannot sympathize with the oppressor equally as with the oppressed.
time men needs
God is the only being who has time enough; but a prudent man, who knows how to seize occasion, can commonly make a shift to find as much as he needs.
education knowledge desire
To educate the intelligence is to expand the horizon of its wants and desires.
brave literature weak
Fortune is the rod of the weak, and the staff of the brave.
form government man
Democracy is the form of government that gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
feels less lovely man sentiments weigh
Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
democracy man
Democracy give every man the right to be his own oppressor.
faces grows life milestones near road runs strange
As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new -- and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one a friend.
mastered reading whatever worth wound
A reading machine, always wound up and going, he mastered whatever was not worth the knowing.
attribute good skepticism wise
A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.
god strong dark
Darkness is strong, and so is Sin, But surely God endures forever!
expression giving form
New conditions of life will stimulate thought and give new forms to its expression.