The joy of heaven will begin as soon as we attain the character of heaven, and do its duties. Theodore Parker More Quotes by Theodore Parker More Quotes From Theodore Parker Every man has at times in his mind the Ideal of what he should be, but is not. This ideal may be high and complete, or it may be quite low and insufficient; yet in all men, that really seek to improve, it is better than the actual character... Man never falls so low, that he can see nothing higher than himself. Theodore Parker charactermenfall Truth never yet fell dead in the streets; it has such affinity with the soul of man, the seed however broadcast will catch somewhere and produce its hundredfold. Theodore Parker affinitysoulmen It takes a Newton to forge a Newton. What man could have fabricated a Jesus? None but a Jesus. Theodore Parker christianmenjesus It seems strange that a butterfly's wing should be woven up so thin and gauzy in the monstrous loom of nature, and be so delicately tipped with fire from such a gross hand, and rainbowed all over in such a storm of thunderous elements. The marvel is that such great forces do such nice work. Theodore Parker butterflynicenature Cities have always been the fireplaces of civilization, whence light and heat radiated out into the dark. Theodore Parker citiesdarkcivilization Love of truth will bless the lover all his days; yet when he brings her home, his fair-faced bride, she comes empty-handed to his door, herself her only dower. Theodore Parker truthhomedoors There is no intercessor, angel, mediator, between man and God; for man can speak and God hear, each for himself. He requires no advocates to plead for men. Theodore Parker atheismangelmen The books which help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is by easy reading; every man that tries it finds it so. But a great book that comes from a great thinker, — it is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth, with beauty too. Theodore Parker make-you-thinkbookthinking The Bible goes equally to the cottage of the peasant, and the palace of the king. - It is woven into literature, and colors the talk of the street. The bark of the merchant cannot sail without it; and no ship of war goes to the conflict but it is there. It enters men's closets; directs their conduct, and mingles in all the grief and cheerfulness of life. Theodore Parker griefkingswar Manly natural religion - it is not joining the Church; it is not to believe in a creed, Hebrew, Protestant, Catholic, Trinitarian, Unitarian, Nothingarian. It is not to keep Sunday idle; to attend meetings; to be wet with water; to read the Bible; to offer prayers in words; to take bread and wine in the meeting house; love a scape-goat Jesus, or any other theological clap-trap. Theodore Parker prayerbelievejesus The diamond which shines in the Saviour's crown shall burn in unquenched beauty at last on the forehead of every human soul. Theodore Parker crownsshiningsoul [America is] a rebellious nation. Our whole history is treason; our blood was attained before we were born; our creeds were infidelity to the mother church; our constitution treason to our fatherland. Theodore Parker betrayalmotherblood Every rose is an autograph from the hand of the Almighty God on this world about us. He has inscribed His thoughts in these marvelous hieroglyphics which sense and science have been these many thousand years seeking to understand. Theodore Parker flowerhandsyears It is not from the tall crowded workhouse of prosperity that men first or clearest see the eternal stars of heaven. Theodore Parker starsmenheaven Science, also, is most largely indebted to these beauty-loving Greeks, for truth is one form of loveliness. Theodore Parker truth-isgreekscience He prays best who, not asking God to do man's work, prays penitence, prays resolutions, and then prays deeds--thus supplicating with heart and head and hands. Theodore Parker prayerheartmen As society advances the standard of poverty rises. Theodore Parker povertypoorsociety Greatness is its own torment. Theodore Parker tormentgreatness Silence is a figure of speech, unanswerable, short, cold, but terribly severe. Theodore Parker coldspeechsilence What sad faces one always sees in the asylums for orphans! It is more fatal to neglect the heart than the head. Theodore Parker asylumsfacesheart
