Not in vain is Ireland pouring itself all over the earth. The Irish, with their glowing hearts and reverent credulity, are needed in this cold age of intellect and skepticism. Lydia M. Child More Quotes by Lydia M. Child More Quotes From Lydia M. Child The old men gazed on them in their loveliness, and turned away with that deep and painful sigh, which the gladness of childhood, and thetransient beauty of youth, are so apt to awaken in the bosom of the aged. Lydia M. Child childhood youth men Whoso does not see that genuine life is a battle and a march has poorly read his origin and his destiny. Lydia M. Child destiny battle doe Birds and beasts have in fact our own nature, flattened a semi-tone. Lydia M. Child tone bird facts Genius hath electric power which earth can never tame. Lydia M. Child electric-power genius earth To everything there is a bright side and a dark side; and I hold it to be unwise, unphilosophic, unkind to others, and unhealthy for one's own soul, to form the habit of looking on the dark side. Cheerfulness is to the spiritual atmosphere what sunshine is to the earthly landscape. I am resolved to cherish cheerfulness with might and main. Lydia M. Child sunshine spiritual dark The great difficulty in education is that we give rules instead of inspiring sentiments. ... it is not possible to make rules enough to apply to all manner of cases; and if it were possible, a child would soon forget them. But if you inspire him with right feelings, they will govern his actions. Lydia M. Child education giving children That a majority of women do not wish for any important change in their social and civil condition, merely proves that they are the unreflecting slaves of custom. Lydia M. Child important wish reality the excess of all good things is mischievous. Lydia M. Child mischievous excess good-things I think every individual, and every society, is perfected just in proportion to the combination, and cooperation, of masculine and feminine elements of character. He is the most perfect man who is affectionate as well as intellectual; and she is the most perfect woman who is intellectual as well as affectionate. Every art and science becomes more interesting, viewed both from the masculine and feminine points of view. Lydia M. Child character men art Avoid the necessity of a physician, if you can, by careful attention to your diet. Eat what best agrees with your system, and resolutely abstain from what hurts you, however well you may like it. A few days' abstinence, and cold water for a beverage, has driven off many an approaching disease. Lydia M. Child health hurt water The existence of very pious feelings, in conjunction with intolerance, cruelty, and selfish policy, has never ceased to surprise and perplex those who have viewed it calmly from a distance. ... It is impossible to exaggerate the evil work theology has done in the world. What destruction of the beautiful monuments of past ages, what waste of life, what disturbance of domestic and social happiness, what perverted feelings, what blighted hearts, have always marked its baneful progress! Lydia M. Child selfish distance beautiful But men never violate the laws of God without suffering the consequences, sooner or later. Lydia M. Child suffering law men a great mind can attend to little things, but a little mind cannot attend to great things. Lydia M. Child little-things mind littles It is right noble to fight with wickedness and wrong; the mistake is in supposing that spiritual evil can be overcome by physical means. Lydia M. Child spiritual mistake philosophy Genius hath electric power; Lydia M. Child electric-power dark clouds There was a time when all these things would have passed me by, like the flitting figures of a theatre, sufficient for the amusement of an hour. But now, I have lost the power of looking merely on the surface. Lydia M. Child amusement hours theatre
