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24 Best John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes

Famous As: Poet
Born On: December 17, 1807
Died On: September 7, 1892
Born In: Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States
Died At Age: 84
John Greenleaf Whittier was an American poet known for his anti-slavery writings and support for abolition of slavery in the United States. Whittier’s notable works include Legends of New England, Moll Pitcher, The Song of the Vermonters and Poems Written during the Progress of the Abolition Question. Since childhood, Whittier was a devoted follower of Quakerism and their ideologies, which focused on humanitarianism, compassion, and social responsibility.  He used poetry as a medium to convey his political beliefs. Whittier is also known for his incredible support for female writers like Alice Cary, Sarah Orne Jewett, Lucy Larcom, and Celia Thaxter. Many buildings and landmarks at Whittier’s hometown in Haverhill have been named after him in his honor. A city in California has been named after the poet as well apart from various colleges, communities and schools. We have collected his quotes, thoughts and sayings from his writings, poems, and observations. Here are some of the most insightful quotes from this legend in American literature.  
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Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.

Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.

John Greenleaf Whittier
The windows of my soul I throw
Wide open to the sun.

The windows of my soul I throw Wide open to the sun.

John Greenleaf Whittier
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near,
A little gift from one held dear,
Best wishes for the coming year.

These make a merry christmas!

A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry christmas!

John Greenleaf Whittier
No longer forward or behind
I look in hope or fear,
But grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.

No longer forward or behind I look in hope or fear, But grateful, take the good I find, The best of now and here.

John Greenleaf Whittier
If thou of fortune be bereft, 
 and in thy store there be but left
 two loaves, sell one, and with the
 dole, buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

If thou of fortune be bereft, and in thy store there be but left two loaves, sell one, and with the dole, buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

John Greenleaf Whittier
Flowers spring to blossom where she walks
 The careful ways of duty;
Our hard, stiff lines of life with her
 Are flowing curves of beauty.

Flowers spring to blossom where she walks The careful ways of duty; Our hard, stiff lines of life with her Are flowing curves of beauty.

John Greenleaf Whittier
The tints of autumn...a mighty flower garden blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.

The tints of autumn...a mighty flower garden blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.

John Greenleaf Whittier
The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you

John Greenleaf Whittier
No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.

No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear; But, grateful, take the good I find, The best of now and here.

John Greenleaf Whittier
Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew.

Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew.

John Greenleaf Whittier
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!

John Greenleaf Whittier
And sweet and far as from a star, replied a voice which shall not cease, till drowning all the noise of war, it sings the blessed song of peace

And sweet and far as from a star, replied a voice which shall not cease, till drowning all the noise of war, it sings the blessed song of peace

John Greenleaf Whittier
I'll lift you and you lift me, and we'll both ascend together.

I'll lift you and you lift me, and we'll both ascend together.

John Greenleaf Whittier
Clothe with life the weak intent,
Let me be the thing I meant ...

Clothe with life the weak intent, Let me be the thing I meant ...

John Greenleaf Whittier
Nothing before, nothing behind;
The steps of faith
Fall on the seeming void, and find
The Rock beneath.

Nothing before, nothing behind; The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The Rock beneath.

John Greenleaf Whittier
At what point does a man turn into a monster? I don’t believe that it’s when he does horrible things, but when he accepts that he’s able to do them, and that he does them well.

At what point does a man turn into a monster? I don’t believe that it’s when he does horrible things, but when he accepts that he’s able to do them, and that he does them well.

John Greenleaf Whittier
As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than the truth.

As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than the truth.

John Greenleaf Whittier
And still we love the evil cause
And of the just effect complain;
We tread upon life's broken laws
And murmur at our self-inflicted pain.

And still we love the evil cause And of the just effect complain; We tread upon life's broken laws And murmur at our self-inflicted pain.

John Greenleaf Whittier
Behind the cloud the starlight lurks,
Through showers the sunbeams fall;
For God, who loveth all His works,
Has left His hope with all!

Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, Through showers the sunbeams fall; For God, who loveth all His works, Has left His hope with all!

John Greenleaf Whittier
Sometimes it seems as if the universe wants to be noticed!!!

Sometimes it seems as if the universe wants to be noticed!!!

John Greenleaf Whittier
I know not where his islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond his love and care.

I know not where his islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond his love and care.

John Greenleaf Whittier
Rest if you must, but never quit.

Rest if you must, but never quit.

John Greenleaf Whittier
The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.

The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.

John Greenleaf Whittier
But dream not helm and harness 
The sign of valor true; 
Peace hath higher tests of manhood 
Than battle ever knew.

But dream not helm and harness The sign of valor true; Peace hath higher tests of manhood Than battle ever knew.

John Greenleaf Whittier