William Channing
William Channing
great ideas mankind possess possessed wise
The wise only possess ideas, the great part of mankind are possessed by them.
breathed earth great ideas influence man
Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him.
diseased expressed grandeur great indeed interest man mass nature outward sight strong turns
I have expressed my strong interest in the mass of the people; and this is founded, not on their usefulness to the community, so much as on what they are in themselves.... Indeed every man (sic), in every condition, is great. It is only our own diseased sight which makes him little. A man is great as a man, be he where or what he may. The grandeur of his nature turns to insignificance all outward distinctions.
against brothers employs force great intellect less worse
Of all treasons against humanity, there is no one worse than his who employs great intellectual force to keep down the intellect of his less favored brothers
educate greater larger rule true work
It is a greater work to educate a child, in the true and larger sense of the word, than to rule a state.
chain divine great possesses powers slavish soul
He who possesses the divine powers of the soul is a great being, be his place what it may. You may clothe him with rags, may immure him in a dungeon, may chain him to slavish tasks. But he is still great . . . .
best books-and-reading great men pour precious souls talk
In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours.
beauty deeply fit greatest linked natural soul surely truths win wronged
The greatest truths are wronged if not linked with beauty, and they win their way most surely and deeply into the soul when arrayed in this their natural and fit attire.
causes considered courage deserves esteem itself reference
Courage considered in itself or without reference to its causes, is no virtue, and deserves no esteem
careful practice
Practice makes perfect,So be careful what you practice.
cannot clear comprehend form hidden ideas justly knowledge nature plant pretend properties reason simplest truth
We do not pretend to know the whole nature and properties of God, but still we can form some clear ideas of him, and can reason from these ideas as justly as from any other. The truth is, that we cannot be said to comprehend any being whatever, not the simplest plant or animal. All have hidden properties. Our knowledge of all is limited.
awake destinies enduring glorious immortal man passing shall soul sublime substance
Everything here but the soul of man is a passing shadow. The only enduring substance is within. When shall we awake to the sublime greatness, the perils, the accountableness, and the glorious destinies of the immortal soul?
alive beauty blades branches depths earth eyes feeling flowers green haunts lift minute overflow people precious rising setting shell sun themselves trees unfolds universe waves
Beauty is an all-pervading presence. It unfolds to the numberless flowers of the Spring; it waves in the branches of the trees and in the green blades of grass; it haunts the depths of the earth and the sea, and gleams out in the hues of the shell and the precious stone. And not only these minute objects, but the ocean, the mountains, the clouds, the heavens, the stars, the rising and the setting sun all overflow with beauty. The universe is its temple; and those people who are alive to it can not lift their eyes without feeling themselves encompassed with it on every side.
difficulty resistance true work
Difficulty is the element, and resistance the true work of a man.