The golden age is not in the past, but in the future; not in the origin of human experience, but in its consummate flower; not opening in Eden, but out from Gethsemane. Edwin Hubbel Chapin More Quotes by Edwin Hubbel Chapin More Quotes From Edwin Hubbel Chapin The highest genius never flowers in satire, but culminates in sympathy with that which is best in human nature, and appeals to it. Edwin Hubbel Chapin human-nature genius flower It is difficult to believe that a true gentleman will ever become a gamester, a libertine, or a sot. Edwin Hubbel Chapin difficult gentleman believe No piled-up wealth, no social station, no throne, reaches as high as that spiritual plane upon which every human being stands by virtue of his humanity. Edwin Hubbel Chapin thrones humanity spiritual Honor to the idealists, whether philosophers or poets. They have improved us by mingling with our daily pursuits great and transcendent conceptions. They have thrown around our sensual life the grandeur of a better, and drawn us up from contacts with the temporal and the selfish to communion with beauty and truth and goodness. Edwin Hubbel Chapin selfish sensual honor Is there anything so wretched as to look at a man of fine abilities doing nothing? Edwin Hubbel Chapin doing-nothing men looks Impatience dries the blood sooner than age or sorrow. Edwin Hubbel Chapin sorrow age blood We move too much in platoons; we march by sections; we do not live in our vital individuality enough; we are slaves to fashion, in mind and in heart, if not to our passions and appetites. Edwin Hubbel Chapin passion fashion moving Earth has scarcely an acre that does not remind us of actions that have long preceded our own, and its clustering tombstones loom up like reefs of the eternal shore, to show us where so many human barks have struck and gone down. Edwin Hubbel Chapin tombstone long past It is not enjoined upon us to forget, but we are told to forgive, our enemies. Edwin Hubbel Chapin forgiving forget enemy A man's love for his native land lies deeper than any logical expression, among those pulses of the heart which vibrate to the sanctities of home, and to the thoughts which leap up from his father's graves. Edwin Hubbel Chapin home father lying O, how much those men are to be valued who, in the spirit with which the widow gave up her two mites, have given up themselves! How their names sparkle! How rich their very ashes are! How they will count up in heaven! Edwin Hubbel Chapin names men two Christianity has made martyrdom sublime, and sorrow triumphant. Edwin Hubbel Chapin sublime sorrow christianity Man gains wider dominion by his intellect than by his right arm. The mustard-seed of thought is a pregnant treasury of vast results. Like the germ in the Egyptian tombs its vitality never perishes; and its fruit will spring up after it has been buried for long ages. Edwin Hubbel Chapin spring men long Why, man of idleness, labor has rocked you in the cradle, and nourished your pampered life; without it, the woven silk and the wool upon your bank would be in the shepherd's fold. For the meanest thing that ministers to human want, save the air of heaven, man is indebted to toil; and even the air, in God's wise ordination, is breathed with labor. Edwin Hubbel Chapin wise air men Death is a great revealer of what is in a man, and in its solemn shadow appear the naked lineaments of the soul. Edwin Hubbel Chapin soul men death The bosom can ache beneath diamond brooches; and many a blithe heart dances under coarse wool. Edwin Hubbel Chapin wool jewelry heart Through every rift of discovery some seeming anomaly drops out of the darkness, and falls, as a golden link into the great chain of order. Edwin Hubbel Chapin ties discovery fall An aged Christian, with the snow of time upon his head, may remind us that those points of earth are whitest which are nearest to heaven. Edwin Hubbel Chapin christian time snow Not in achievement, but in endurance, of the human soul, does it show its divine grandeur and its alliance with the infinite. Edwin Hubbel Chapin endurance achievement soul Skepticism has never founded empires, established principals, or changed the world's heart. The great doers in history have always been people of faith. Edwin Hubbel Chapin faith heart people
