A clear thought, a pure affection, a resolute act of a virtuous will, have a dignity of quite another kind, and far higher than accumulations of brick and granite and plaster and stucco, however cunningly put together. William Ellery Channing More Quotes by William Ellery Channing More Quotes From William Ellery Channing All that we do outwardly is but the expression and completion of our inward thought. To work effectively, we must think clearly; to act nobly, we must think nobly. William Ellery Channing inward positive-thinking expression In general, we do well to let an opponent's motives alone. We are seldom just to them. Our own motives on such occasions are often worse than those we assail. William Ellery Channing motive opponents motivation Our affections are our life. We live by them; they supply our warmth. William Ellery Channing affection live-by love It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with the superior minds, and these invaluable means of communication are in reach of all. In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. Books are true levellers. They give to all, who faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence of the best and greatest of our race. William Ellery Channing communication spiritual book Let us aspire towards this living confidence, that it is the will of God to unfold and exalt without end the spirit that entrusts itself to Him in well-doing as to a faithful Creator. William Ellery Channing faithful faith-in-god spirit Other blessings may be taken away, but if we have acquired a good friend by goodness, we have a blessing which improves in value when others fail. William Ellery Channing good-friend taken blessing Mistakes and errors are the discipline through which we advance. William Ellery Channing discipline errors mistake Every human being is a volume, worthy to be studied. William Ellery Channing worthy volume humans I laugh, for hope hath a happy place with me; If my boat sinks, 'tis to another sea. William Ellery Channing boat sea laughing Let every man, if possible, gather some good books under his roof. William Ellery Channing roof men book God is another name for human intelligence raised above all error and imperfection, and extended to all possible truth. William Ellery Channing imperfection errors names Most joyful let the Poet be, it is through him that all men see. William Ellery Channing joyful poetry men Life has a higher end, than to be amused William Ellery Channing ends inspire life We never know a greater character unless there is in ourselves something congenial to it. William Ellery Channing knows appreciation character We honor revelation too highly to make it the antagonist of reason, or to believe that it calls us to renounce our highest powers. William Ellery Channing honor reason believe What a sublime doctrine it is, that goodness cherished now is eternal life already entered on! William Ellery Channing doctrine sublime goodness To give a generous hope to a man of his own nature, is to enrich him immeasurably. William Ellery Channing nature hope men I call that mind free which protects itself against the usurpations of society, and which does not cower to human opinion: Which refuses to be the slave or tool of the many or of the few, and guards its empire over itself as nobler than the empire of the world. William Ellery Channing tools mind doe Precept is instruction written in the sand; the tide flows over it and the record is gone; example is graven on the rock, and the lesson is not soon lost. William Ellery Channing rocks example gone Conscience, the sense of right, the power of perceiving moral distinctions, the power of discerning between justice and injustice, excellence and baseness, is the highest faculty given us by God, the whole foundation of our responsibility, and our sole capacity for religion. ...God, in giving us conscience, has implanted a principle within us which forbids us to prostrate ourselves before mere power, or to offer praise where we do not discover worth. William Ellery Channing responsibility justice giving
