“In the lowest stratum of social thraldom, nowhere was the noble soul doomed quite to choke, and die ignobly.”

— Thomas Carlyle

1850s, Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850), The New Downing Street (April 15, 1850)
Context: The pious soul,—which, if you reflect, will mean the ingenuous and ingenious, the gifted, intelligent and nobly-aspiring soul,—such a soul, in whatever rank of life it were born, had one path inviting it; a generous career, whereon, by human worth and valor, all earthly heights and Heaven itself were attainable. In the lowest stratum of social thraldom, nowhere was the noble soul doomed quite to choke, and die ignobly.

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Thomas Carlyle 481

Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian… 1795–1881

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