Source: A Voice from the South by a Black Woman of the South (1892), p. 32
On Lord Bacon (1837)
“When first to man the privilege was given
To hold by verse an intercourse with Heaven,
Unwilling that the immortal art should lie
Cheap, and exposed to every vulgar eye,
Great Jove, to drive away the groveling crowd,
To narrow bounds confined the glorious road,
For more exalted spirits to pursue,
And left it open to the sacred few.”
Principio quoniam magni commercia coeli
Numina concessere homini, cui carmina curae,
Ipse Deum genitor divinam noluit artem
Omnibus expositam vulgo, immeritisque patere:
Atque ideo, turbam quo longe arceret inertem,
Angustam esse viam voluit, paucisque licere.
Book III, line 358
De Arte Poetica (1527)
“We all should rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.”
Source: The Story of My Life and Work
Letter XXIV (19 April 1848), ** Part II, Things and Thoughts of Europe, p. 326.
At Home And Abroad (1856)
Context: My friends write to urge my return the talk of our country as the land of the future. It is so, but that spirit which made it all it is of value in my eyes, which gave me all hope with which I can sympathize for that future, is more alive here at present than in America. My country is at present spoiled by prosperity, stupid with the lust of gain, soiled by crime in its willing perpetuation of slavery, shamed by an unjust war, noble sentiment much forgotten even by individuals, the aims of politicians selfish or petty, the literature frivolous and venal. In Europe, amid the teachings of adversity, a nobler spirit is struggling — a spirit which cheers and animates mine. I hear earnest words of pure faith and love. I see deeds of brotherhood. This is what makes my America. I do not deeply distrust my country. She is not dead, but in my time she sleepeth, and the spirits of our fathers flame no more, but lies hid beneath the ashes. It will not be so long; bodies cannot live when the soul gets too overgrown with gluttony and falsehood.
“I have always thought that every woman should marry, and no man.”
Source: Books, Coningsby (1844), Lothair (1870), Ch. 30.
“Every nation is selfish and every nation considers its selfishness sacred.”
Toute nation est égoïste. Toute nation considère son égoïsme comme sacré.
"Letter to an American" (1944)
My Reviewers Reviewed (lecture from June 27, 1877, San Francisco, CA)
Source: Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
Remarks by the President at the NAACP Conference at Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (July 14, 2015)
2015
Context: What the marchers on Washington knew, what the marchers in Selma knew, what folks like Julian Bond knew, what the marchers in this room still know, is that justice is not only the absence of oppression, it is the presence of opportunity. Justice is giving every child a shot at a great education no matter what zip code they’re born into. Justice is giving everyone willing to work hard the chance at a good job with good wages, no matter what their name is, what their skin color is, where they live. Justice is living up to the common creed that says, I am my brother’s keeper and my sister’s keeper. Justice is making sure every young person knows they are special and they are important and that their lives matter -- not because they heard it in a hashtag, but because of the love they feel every single day not just love from their parents, not just love from their neighborhood, but love from police, love from politicians. Love from somebody who lives on the other side of the country, but says, that young person is still important to me. That’s what justice is.
