Quote

There are two kinds of genius. The first and highest may be said to speak out of the eternal to the present, and must compel its age to understand it the second understands its age, and tells it what it wishes to be told.

James Russell Lowell

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

James Russell Lowell
Age: 72 †
Born: 1819
Born: February 22
Died: 1891
Died: August 12
Diplomat
Essayist
Journalist
Literary Critic
Poet
Writer
Cambridge
Massachusetts
First
Present
Wishes
Must
Age
Tells
Kind
Wish
Kinds
Understand
Eternal
Speak
Highest
Two
Genius
May
Second
Compel
Firsts
Told
Understands

More quotes by James Russell Lowell

Image
There are two kinds of weakness, that which breaks and that which bends.
James Russell Lowell
Image
An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.
James Russell Lowell
Image
I who still pray at morning and at eve Thrice in my life perhaps have truly prayed, Thrice stirred below conscious self Have felt that perfect disenthrallment which is God.
James Russell Lowell
Image
The future works out great men's destinies The present is enough for common souls, Who, never looking forward, are indeed Mere clay wherein the footprints of their age Are petrified forever.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Incredulity robs us of many pleasures, and gives us nothing in return.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Democracy is that form of society, no matter what its political classification, in which every man has a chance and knows that he has it.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Ah, in this world, where every guiding thread Ends suddenly in the one sure centre, death, The visionary hand of Might-have-been Alone can fill Desire's cup to the brim!
James Russell Lowell
Image
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
Image
Communism means barbarism.
James Russell Lowell
Image
All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Faith in God, faith in man, faith in work: this is the short formula in which we may sum up the teachings of the founders of New England,--a creed ample enough for this life and the next.
James Russell Lowell
Image
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
Image
It is the privilege of genius that life never grows common place, as it does for the rest of us.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Folks never understand the folks they hate.
James Russell Lowell
Image
He who is firmly seated in authority soon learns to think security, and not progress, the highest lesson in statecraft.
James Russell Lowell
Image
It is curious how tyrannical the habit of reading is...
James Russell Lowell
Image
It is by presence of mind in untried emergencies that the native metal of man is tested.
James Russell Lowell
Image
Never did Poesy appear So full of heaven to me, as when I saw how it would pierce through pride and fear To the lives of coarsest men.
James Russell Lowell
Image
There is surely room for yet another schoolmaster when a score of seers advertise themselves in Boston newspapers.
James Russell Lowell