Most men make the voyage of life as if they carried sealed orders which they were not to open till they were fairly in mid-ocean. James Russell Lowell More Quotes by James Russell Lowell More Quotes From James Russell Lowell Who is it needs such flawless shafts as fate? What archer of his arrows is so choice, or hits the white so surely? James Russell Lowell archer fate white Be He nowhere else, God is in all that liberates and lifts, in all that humbles, sweetens, and consoles. James Russell Lowell lifts console god God's livery is a very plain one; but its wearers have good reason to be content. If it have not so much gold-lace about it as Satan's, it keeps out foul weather better, and is besides a great deal cheaper. James Russell Lowell lace gold weather While tenderness of feeling and susceptibility to generous emotions are accidents of temperament, goodness is an achievement of the will and a quality of the life. James Russell Lowell good-life achievement feelings The very gnarliest and hardest of hearts has some musical strings in it; but they are tuned differently in every one of us. James Russell Lowell strings musical heart Imagination, where it is truly creative, is a faculty, and not a quality; it looks before and after, it gives the form that makes all the parts work together harmoniously toward a given end, its seat is in the higher reason, and it is efficient only as a servant of the will. Imagination, as it is too often misunderstood, is mere fantasy, the image-making power, common to all who have the gift of dreams. James Russell Lowell imagination dream giving The riches of scholarship, the benignities of literature, defy fortune and outlive calamity. They are beyond the reach of thief or moth or rust. As they cannot be inherited, so they cannot, be alienated. James Russell Lowell rust thieves literature Life is constantly weighing us in very sensitive scales, and telling every one of us precisely what his real weight is to the last grain of dust. James Russell Lowell dust real life Love lives on, and hath a power to bless when they who loved are hidden in the grave. James Russell Lowell bless love-life love What a man pays for bread and butter is worth its market value, and no more. What he pays for love's sake is gold indeed, which has a lure for angels' eyes, and rings well upon God's touchstone. James Russell Lowell angel eye love Fashion being the art of those who must purchase notice at some cheaper rate than that of being beautiful, loves to do rash and extravagant things. She must be forever new, or she becomes insipid. James Russell Lowell fashion beautiful art It is not without reason that fame is awarded only after death. The cloud-dust of notoriety which follows and envelops the men who drive with the wind bewilders contemporary judgment. James Russell Lowell dust clouds men God is not dumb, that he should speak no more; James Russell Lowell dumb soul religion O reputation! dearer far than life. James Russell Lowell reputation Large charity doth never soil, but only whitens soft white hands. James Russell Lowell charity white hands All that hath been majestical James Russell Lowell angel heart character Comparative criticism teaches us that moral and aesthetic defects are more nearly related than is commonly supposed. James Russell Lowell teach moral criticism The realm of death seems an enemy's country to most men, on whose shores they are loathly driven by stress of weather; to the wise man it is the desired port where he moors his bark gladly, as in some quiet haven of the Fortunate Isles; it is the golden west into which his sun sinks, and, sinking, casts back a glory upon the leaden cloud-tack which had darkly besieged his day. James Russell Lowell wise country death We look at death through the cheap-glazed windows of the flesh, and believe him the monster which the flawed and cracked glass represents him. James Russell Lowell glasses believe death The New World's sons from England's breast we drew James Russell Lowell past world son
