William Ellery Channing Quotes

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Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.

William Ellery Channing

Inspirational, God, Stay Strong

William Ellery Channing (1839). “Self-culture: An address introductory to the Franklin lectures, delivered at Boston, September, 1838”, p.42

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To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony.

William Ellery Channing

Inspirational, Life, Happiness

William Ellery Channing, “My Symphony”

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May your life preach more loudly than your lips.

William Ellery Channing

I Hate You, May, Lips

William Ellery Channing, George Channing (1849). “(398 p.)”, p.101

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Every human being is intended to have a character of his own; to be what no others are, and to do what no other can do.

William Ellery Channing

Inspiring, Character, Breathtaking

William Ellery Channing (1835). “The works of Wm. Ellery Channing ...”, p.285

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One of the tremendous evils of the world, is the monstrous accumulation of power in a few hands.

William Ellery Channing

Hands, Evil, World

William Ellery Channing, George Channing (1849). “(XXX, 387 p.)”, p.22

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Whatever you may suffer, speak the truth. Be worthy of the entire confidence of your associates. Consider what is right as to what must be done. It is not necessary that you should keep your property, or even your life, but it is necessary that you should hold fast your integrity.

William Ellery Channing

Integrity, Suffering, Done

William Ellery Channing, William Henry Channing (1860). “Memoir of William Ellery Channing, with extracts from his correspondence and manuscripts ...”, p.424

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It is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the mind's dignity.

William Ellery Channing

Inspirational, Learning, Knowledge

William Ellery Channing (1840). “Lectures on the elevation of the labouring portion of the community”, p.25

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Be true to your own highest convictions.

William Ellery Channing

Conviction, Being True, Highest

William Ellery CHANNING (1839). “Self-Culture. An address introductory to the Franklin lectures, delivered at Boston. 1838”, p.18

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The only freedom worth possessing is that which gives enlargement to a people's energy, intellect, and virtues.

William Ellery Channing

Freedom, People, Giving

William Ellery Channing (1837). “Essays, Literary & Political”, p.204

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Great effort from great motives is the best definition of a happy life

William Ellery Channing

Inspirational, Happiness, Motivation

William Ellery Channing, George Channing (1849). “(411 p.)”, p.88

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To give a generous hope to a man of his own nature, is to enrich him immeasurably.

William Ellery Channing

Hope, Nature, Men

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No one should part with their individuality and become that of another.

William Ellery Channing

Individuality, Individualism, Should

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Every mind was made for growth, for knowledge, and its nature is sinned against when it is doomed to ignorance.

William Ellery Channing

Ignorance, Knowledge, Fate

William Ellery Channing (1843). “The Works of William E. Channing”, p.160

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Love is the life of the soul. It is the harmony of the universe.

William Ellery Channing

Sweet, Love Is, Romance

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Mistakes and errors are the discipline through which we advance.

William Ellery Channing

Mistake, Errors, Discipline

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God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.

William Ellery Channing

God, Spiritual, Reading

William Ellery Channing (1839). “Self-culture: An address introductory to the Franklin lectures, delivered at Boston, September, 1838”, p.22

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God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill us with the love of truth and virtue.

William Ellery Channing

Prejudice, Virtue, Unkindness

William Ellery Channing (1836). “A discourse on same of the distinguishing opinions of Unitarians, delivered at Baltimore in 1819. ...”, p.4

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It has often been observed, that those who have the most time at their disposal profit by it the least. A single hour a day, steadily given to the study of some interesting subject, brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge.

William Ellery Channing

Interesting, Unexpected, Study

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Nothing which has entered into our experience is ever lost.

William Ellery Channing

Lost

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I am a living member of the great family of all souls; and I cannot improve or suffer myself, without diffusing good or evil around me through an ever-enlarging sphere. I belong to this family. I am bound to it by vital bonds.

William Ellery Channing

Evil, Community, Soul

William Ellery Channing (1925). “The Liberal Gospel: As Set Forth in the Writings of William Ellery Channing”

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No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent.

William Ellery Channing

Confidence, Depressing, Attitude

"Self-Culture" (address), Boston, Mass., Sept. 1838

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The home is the chief school of human virtues.

William Ellery Channing

Inspirational, Home, School

William Ellery Channing, George Channing (1849). “(411 p.)”, p.69

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The fewer the voices on the side of truth, the more distinct and strong must be your own.

William Ellery Channing

Strong, Truth, Voice

William Ellery Channing (1848). “The Works”, p.310

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Knowledge is essential to freedom.

William Ellery Channing

Freedom, Essentials

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Influence is to be measured, not by the extent of surface it covers, but by its kind.

William Ellery Channing

Kind, Influence, Surface

William Ellery Channing (1863). “Lectures on the Elevation of the Laboring Portion of the Community”, p.15

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Born: April 7, 1780
Died: October 2, 1842
Occupation: Preacher
Cite this Page: Citation

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