Life is a fragment, a moment between two eternities. William Ellery Channing More Quotes by William Ellery Channing More Quotes From William Ellery Channing 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 Labor is discovered to be the grand conqueror, enriching and building up nations more surely than the proudest battles. William Ellery Channing building-upbattlelabor All noble enthusiasms pass through a feverish stage, and grow wiser and more serene William Ellery Channing nobleenthusiasmwise It is chiefly through books that we enjoy the intercourse with superior minds. William Ellery Channing enjoymindbook Do anything rather than give yourself to reverie. William Ellery Channing reveriegiving The worst tyrants are those which establish themselves in our own breasts. William Ellery Channing tyrantsworstenemy A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them. William Ellery Channing inspirationalmenmean He who is false to the present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and you will see the effect when the weaving of a life-time is unraveled. William Ellery Channing weavingthreadbreak My highway is unfeatured air, My consorts are the sleepless stars, And men my giant arms upbear My arms unstained and free from scars. William Ellery Channing starsairmen The reveries of youth, in which so much energy is wasted, are the yearnings of a Spirit made for what it has not found but must forever seek as an Ideal William Ellery Channing energyspiritforever It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great. William Ellery Channing compassobjectsimportant Natural amiableness is too often seen in company with sloth, with uselessness, with the vanity of fashionable life. William Ellery Channing friendsvanitysloth Of all the discoveries which men need to make, the most important, at the present moment, is that of the self-forming power treasured up in themselves. They little suspect its extent, as little as the savage apprehends the energy which the mind is created to exert on the material world. William Ellery Channing selfdiscoverymen Real greatness has nothing to do with a man’s sphere. It does not lie in the magnitude of his outward agency, in the extent of the effects which he produces. The greatest men may do comparatively little. William Ellery Channing greatnessreallying 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 bricksdignitytogether Perhaps in our presence, the most heroic deed on earth is done in some silent spirit, the loftiest purpose cherished, the most generous sacrifice made, and we do not suspect it. I believe this greatness to be most common among the multitude, whose names are never heard. William Ellery Channing sacrificegreatnessbelieve Men are never very wise and select in the exercise of a new power. William Ellery Channing powerwiseexercise A man may quarrel with himself alone; that is, by controverting his better instincts and knowledge when brought face to face with temptation. William Ellery Channing temptationmaymen I am a living member of the great family of all souls. William Ellery Channing membersonenesssoul To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich, to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common, this is to be my symphony. William Ellery Channing
