James Russell Lowell was a well-acclaimed American poet, essayist, editor. After completing his degree in law he wrote his first collection of poetry titled ‘A Year’s Life’ which was well appreciated by the masses. This encouraged him to quit law and seriously pursue his writing career to publish his second book titled ‘Poems’. He even worked as an editorial writer for an abolitionist journal inspired by his abolitionist and poet wife Maria White. During this period he wrote fifty anti-slavery articles and also wrote essays requesting the abolition of slavery in a book titled ‘Conversations On Some of the Old Poets’. He wrote various books and journals including ‘The Vision of Sir Launfal’ and ‘Poems: Second Series’. His most notable work was ‘The Biglow Papers’ which nurtured his reputation as a poet. He also served as an editor for a couple of magazines and even showed his interest towards politics. Here is a compilation of thoughts and quotations by the Romantic poet which have been extracted from his writings, poems, essays, speeches and books. Read through the inspiring quotes by James Russell Lowell on nature, reviews, self-discovery, growing-old, death, democracy and statesmanship.
There is no good arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.
James Russell Lowell
At the devil's booth are all things sold. Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold.
James Russell Lowell
No man can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.
James Russell Lowell
A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.
James Russell Lowell
Even as the roots, shut in the darksome earth,
Share in the tree top's joyance, and conceive
Of sunshine and wide air and winged things,
By sympathy of nature, so do I
He chooses his language for its rich canorousness rather than for intensity of meaning.
James Russell Lowell
On Lincoln: "A profound common sense is the best genius for statesmanship.
James Russell Lowell
In creating the only hard thing's to begin
James Russell Lowell
Democracy has a habit of making itself generally disagreeable by asking the powers-that-be at the most inconvenient moment whether they are the powers-that-ought-to-be
James Russell Lowell
A weed is no more than a flower in disguise.
James Russell Lowell
There is no better ballast for keeping the mind steady on its keel, and saving it from all risk of crankiness, than business.
Of courage and security from every sod of it would have evaporated beyond recall. We should be irrevocably cut
James Russell Lowell
It was in making education not only common to all, but in some sense compulsory on all, that the destiny of the free republics of America was practically settled.
James Russell Lowell
Puritanism, believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, without knowing it, the egg of democracy.
