The spirit of liberty is not merely, as multitudes imagine, a jealousy of our own particular rights, but a respect for the rights of others, and an unwillingness that any man, whether high or low, should be wronged and trampled under foot. William Ellery Channing More Quotes by William Ellery Channing More Quotes From William Ellery Channing Undoubtedly a man is to labor to better his condition, but first to better himself. William Ellery Channing labor-day men firsts To do God's will as fast as it is made known to us, to inquire hourly -- I had almost said each moment -- what He requires of us, and to leave ourselves, our friends, and every interest at His control, with a cheerful trust that the path which He marks out leads to our perfection and to Himself, -- this is at once our duty and happiness; and why will we not walk in the plain, simple way?. William Ellery Channing cheerful simple perfection One good anecdote is worth a volume of biography. William Ellery Channing anecdotes biographies volume The chief evil of war is more evil. War is the concentration of all human crimes. Here is its distinguishing, accursed brand. Under its standard gather violence, malignity, rage, fraud, perfidy, rapacity, and lust. If it only slew man, it would do little. It turns man into a beast of prey. William Ellery Channing evil men war The hills are reared, the seas are scooped in vain If learning's altar vanish from the plain. William Ellery Channing hills learning sea But the ground of a man's culture lies in his nature, not in his calling. His powers are to be unfolded on account of their inherent dignity, not their outward direction. He is to be educated, because he is a man, not because he is to make shoes, nail, or pins. William Ellery Channing learning teaching lying The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men the opportunity to work out happiness for themselves. William Ellery Channing patriotic opportunity happiness The home is the chief school of human virtues. William Ellery Channing home inspirational school Home - the nursery of the Infinite. William Ellery Channing nursery infinite home Religion is faith in an infinite Creator, who delights in and enjoins that rectitude which conscience commands us to seek. This conviction gives a Divine sanction to duty. William Ellery Channing delight infinite giving War is to be ranked among the most dreadful calamities which fall on a guilty world; and, what deserves consideration, it tends to multiply and perpetuate itself without end. It feeds and grows on the blood which it sheds. The passions, from which it springs, gain strength and fury from indulgence. William Ellery Channing spring war fall How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success. William Ellery Channing success happy happiness The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should therefore be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly be propagated. If the doctrine be admitted, rulers have only to declare war and they are screened at once from scrutiny. . . . In war, then, as in peace, assert the freedom of speech and of the press. Cling to this as the bulwark of all our rights and privileges. William Ellery Channing war peace country God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill us with the love of truth and virtue. William Ellery Channing unkindness prejudice virtue Compassionate Saviour! We welcome Thee to our world, We welcome Thee to our hearts. We bless Thee for the Divine goodness Thou hast brought from heaven; for the souls Thou hast warmed with love to man, and lifted up in love to God; for the efforts of divine philanthropy which Thou hast inspired; and for that hope of a pure celestial life, through which Thy disciples triumph over death. William Ellery Channing our-world heart men True love is the parent of humility. William Ellery Channing parent humility love Another powerful principle of our nature, which is the spring of war, is the passion for superiority, for triumph, for power. The human mind is aspiring, impatient of inferiority, and eager for preeminence and control. William Ellery Channing powerful spring war Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the common light which the sun sends into all our windows, which he pours freely, impartially over hill and valley, which kindles daily the eastern and western sky; and so the common lights of reason, and conscience, and love, are of more worth and dignity than the rare endowments which give celebrity to a few. William Ellery Channing light sky art An earnest purpose finds time, or makes it. It seizes on spare moments, and turns fragments to golden account. William Ellery Channing golden moments purpose 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 angel rights men
