Harriet Martineau Quotes - Page 2

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• It is my deliberate opinion that the one essential requisite of human welfare in all ways is scientific knowledge of human nature.

  Harriet Martineau

  Aquariums, Essentials, Literature

  Harriet Martineau (2006). “Autobiography”, p.645, Broadview Press

  7 Copy quote

• I have no sympathy for those who, under any pressure of circumstances, sacrifice their heart's-love for legal prostitution.

  Harriet Martineau

  Heart, Sacrifice, Pressure

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.167

  15 Copy quote

• I certainly never believed, more or less, in the "essential doctrines" of Christianity, which represent God as the predestinator of men to sin and perdition, and Christ as their rescuer from that doom. I never was more or less behuiled by the trickery of language by which the perdition of man is made out to be justice, and his redemption to be mercy.

  Harriet Martineau

  Men, Justice, Atheism

  Harriet Martineau (2006). “Autobiography”, p.60, Broadview Press

  5 Copy quote

• As the astronomer rejoices in new knowledge which compels him to give up the dignity of our globe as the centre, the pride, and even the final cause of the universe, so do those who have escaped from the Christian mythology enjoy their release from the superstition which fails to make them happy, fails to make them good, fails to make them wise, and has become as great an obstacle in the way of progress as the prior mythologies which it took the place of two thousand years ago.

  Harriet Martineau

  Wise, Christian, Giving Up

  Harriet Martineau (1877). “Harriet Martineau's autobiography, with memorials by M.W. Chapman”, p.356

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• Self-denial is taught much better by inspiring the love of our neighbor, than by the prohibition of innocent comforts and pleasures. Spirituality is much better taught by making spiritual things the objects of supreme desire, than by commanding an ostentatious avoidance of the enjoyments of life.

  Harriet Martineau

  Spiritual, Self, Desire

  21 Copy quote

• Goodness and simplicity are indissolubly united.-The bad are the most sophisticated, all the world over, and the good the least.

  Harriet Martineau

  Simplicity, World, Sophisticated

  Harriet Martineau (1838). “How to Observe: Morals and Manners”, p.49

  4 Copy quote

• I never did a right thing or abstained from a wrong one from any consideration of reward or punishment.

  Harriet Martineau

  Punishment, Rewards, Consideration

  Harriet Martineau (2015). “Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (Vol. I: Abridged, Annotated)”, p.29, BIG BYTE BOOKS

  21 Copy quote

• During the present interval between the feudal age and the coming time, when life and its occupations will be freely thrown open to women as to men, the condition of the female working classes is such that if its sufferings were but made known, emotions of horror and shame would tremble through the whole of society.

  Harriet Martineau

  Men, Class, Suffering

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.178

  7 Copy quote

• The habit of dwelling on the past, has a narrowing as well as a debilitating influence. Behind us, there is a small, - an almost insignificant measure of time; before us, there is an eternity. It is the natural tendency of the mind to magnify the one, and to diminish the other.

  Harriet Martineau

  Past, Dwelling, Perspective

  Harriet Martineau (1836). “Philosophical essays. Essays on the art of thinking. Sabbath musings. Moral essays. Parables. Poetry”, p.221

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• A soul occupied with great ideas performs small duties.

  Harriet Martineau

  Time, Ideas, Soul

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• What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications, and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable, than that of teaching?

  Harriet Martineau

  Teacher, Teaching, Responsibility

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.178

  10 Copy quote

• Leisure, some degree of it, is necessary to the health of every man's spirit.

  Harriet Martineau

  Men, Degrees, Leisure

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.124

  4 Copy quote

• I loved, as I still love, the most monotonous life possible.

  Harriet Martineau

  Monotonous Life, Stills, Monotonous

  Harriet Martineau (2015). “Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (Vol. I: Abridged, Annotated)”, p.365, BIG BYTE BOOKS

  4 Copy quote

• . . . is it to be understood that the principles of the Declaration of Independence bear no relation to half of the human race?

  Harriet Martineau

  Race, Understanding, Independence

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.151

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• This noble word [women], spirit-stirring as it passes over English ears, is in America banished, and 'ladies' and 'females' substituted: the one to English taste mawkish and vulgar; the other indistinctive and gross.

  Harriet Martineau

  America, Female, Noble

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.145

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• Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right, for that shall bring a man peace at the last.

  Harriet Martineau

  Men, Lasts, Heed

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• I hope and believe my co-religionists understand and admit that I disclaim their theology in toto, and that by no twisting of language or darkening of its meanings can I be made to have any thing whatever in common with them about religious matters... they must take my word for it that there is nothing in common between their theology and my philosophy.

  Harriet Martineau

  Religious, Philosophy, Believe

  Harriet Martineau (2015). “Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (Vol. I: Abridged, Annotated)”, p.101, BIG BYTE BOOKS

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• Scarcely anything that I observed in the United States caused me so much sorrow as the contemptuous estimate of the people entertained by those who were bowing the knee to be permitted to serve them.

  Harriet Martineau

  People, Sorrow, Knees

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.60

  8 Copy quote

• The voice of a whole people goes up in the silent workings of an institution.

  Harriet Martineau

  Voice, People, Silent

  Harriet Martineau (1838). “How to Observe: Morals and Manners”, p.63

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• Religion is a temper, not a pursuit. It is the moral atmosphere in which human beings are to live and move. Men do not live to breathe: they breathe to live.

  Harriet Martineau

  Moving, Men, Atmosphere

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.158

  7 Copy quote

• If there is any country on earth where the course of true love may be expected to run smooth, it is America.

  Harriet Martineau

  Love, Running, Country

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.163

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• All people interested in their work are liable to overrate their vocation. There may be makers of dolls' eyes who wonder how society would go on without them.

  Harriet Martineau

  Eye, People, Dolls

  Harriet Martineau (2015). “Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (Vol. I: Abridged, Annotated)”, p.181, BIG BYTE BOOKS

  14 Copy quote

• It never enters the lady's head that the wet-nurse's baby probably dies.

  Harriet Martineau

  Baby, Nurse, Selfishness

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• Laws and customs may be creative of vice; and should be therefore perpetually under process of observation and correction: but laws and customs cannot be creative of virtue: they may encourage and help to preserve it; but they cannot originate it.

  Harriet Martineau

  Law, Creative, Vices

  Harriet Martineau (1837). “Society in America”, p.168

  8 Copy quote

• [On being deaf:] How much less pain there is in calmly estimating the enjoyments from which we must separate ourselves, of bravely saying, for once and for ever, 'Let them go,' than in feeling them waste and dwindle, till their very shadows escape from our grasp!

  Harriet Martineau

  Pain, Feelings, Shadow

  12 Copy quote

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