In the long run, truth is aided by nothing so much as by opposition. William Ellery Channing More Quotes by William Ellery Channing More Quotes From William Ellery Channing Undoubtedly a man is to labor to better his condition, but first to better himself. William Ellery Channing labor-daymenfirsts To do God's will as fast as it is made known to us, to inquire hourly -- I had almost said each moment -- what He requires of us, and to leave ourselves, our friends, and every interest at His control, with a cheerful trust that the path which He marks out leads to our perfection and to Himself, -- this is at once our duty and happiness; and why will we not walk in the plain, simple way?. William Ellery Channing cheerfulsimpleperfection One good anecdote is worth a volume of biography. William Ellery Channing anecdotesbiographiesvolume The chief evil of war is more evil. War is the concentration of all human crimes. Here is its distinguishing, accursed brand. Under its standard gather violence, malignity, rage, fraud, perfidy, rapacity, and lust. If it only slew man, it would do little. It turns man into a beast of prey. William Ellery Channing evilmenwar The hills are reared, the seas are scooped in vain If learning's altar vanish from the plain. William Ellery Channing hillslearningsea But the ground of a man's culture lies in his nature, not in his calling. His powers are to be unfolded on account of their inherent dignity, not their outward direction. He is to be educated, because he is a man, not because he is to make shoes, nail, or pins. William Ellery Channing learningteachinglying The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men the opportunity to work out happiness for themselves. William Ellery Channing patrioticopportunityhappiness The home is the chief school of human virtues. William Ellery Channing homeinspirationalschool Home - the nursery of the Infinite. William Ellery Channing nurseryinfinitehome Religion is faith in an infinite Creator, who delights in and enjoins that rectitude which conscience commands us to seek. This conviction gives a Divine sanction to duty. William Ellery Channing delightinfinitegiving War is to be ranked among the most dreadful calamities which fall on a guilty world; and, what deserves consideration, it tends to multiply and perpetuate itself without end. It feeds and grows on the blood which it sheds. The passions, from which it springs, gain strength and fury from indulgence. William Ellery Channing springwarfall How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success. William Ellery Channing successhappyhappiness The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should therefore be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly be propagated. If the doctrine be admitted, rulers have only to declare war and they are screened at once from scrutiny. . . . In war, then, as in peace, assert the freedom of speech and of the press. Cling to this as the bulwark of all our rights and privileges. William Ellery Channing warpeacecountry God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill us with the love of truth and virtue. William Ellery Channing unkindnessprejudicevirtue Compassionate Saviour! We welcome Thee to our world, We welcome Thee to our hearts. We bless Thee for the Divine goodness Thou hast brought from heaven; for the souls Thou hast warmed with love to man, and lifted up in love to God; for the efforts of divine philanthropy which Thou hast inspired; and for that hope of a pure celestial life, through which Thy disciples triumph over death. William Ellery Channing our-worldheartmen True love is the parent of humility. William Ellery Channing parenthumilitylove Another powerful principle of our nature, which is the spring of war, is the passion for superiority, for triumph, for power. The human mind is aspiring, impatient of inferiority, and eager for preeminence and control. William Ellery Channing powerfulspringwar Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the common light which the sun sends into all our windows, which he pours freely, impartially over hill and valley, which kindles daily the eastern and western sky; and so the common lights of reason, and conscience, and love, are of more worth and dignity than the rare endowments which give celebrity to a few. William Ellery Channing lightskyart An earnest purpose finds time, or makes it. It seizes on spare moments, and turns fragments to golden account. William Ellery Channing goldenmomentspurpose I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with a passive or hereditary faith, which opens itself to light whencesoever it may come, which receives new truth as an angel from Heaven. William Ellery Channing angelrightsmen
