“The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word.”

—  James A. Garfield

The Province of History (c. 1856), Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 620
1850s
Context: The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains have been pealing along down the centuries, and though there have been mingled the discords of warring cannon and dying men, yet to the Christian philosopher and historian — the humble listener — there has been a Divine melody running through the song which speaks of hope and halcyon days to come.

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James A. Garfield photo
James A. Garfield 129
American politician, 20th President of the United States (i… 1831–1881

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