English poet and essayist (1743-1825)
Remember that the true pleasures of life consist in the exertion of our own powers. If you were to feast every day upon roasted partridges from off Dresden china, and dip your whiskers in syllabubs and creams, it could never give you such true enjoyment as the commonest food procured by the labor of your own paws.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The dead of midnight is the noon of thought.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
"A Summer Evening's Meditation"
The man whose tender sensibility of conscience and strict regard to the rules of morality makes him scrupulous and fearful of offending, is often heard to complain of the disadvantages he lies under in every path of honor and profit.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
Friendship is that warm, tender, lively attachment, which takes place between persons in whom a similarity of tastes and manners, joined to frequent intercourse, has produced an habitual fondness for each other. It is not among our duties, for it does not flow from any of the necessary relations of society; but it has its duties when voluntarily entered into. In its highest perfection it can only, I believe, subsist between two; for that unlimited confidence and perfect conformity of inclinations which it requires, cannot well be found in a larger number: besides, one such friendship fills the heart, and leaves no want or desire after another.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
It is another advantage of history, that it stores the mind with facts that apply to most subjects which occur in conversation among enlightened people. Whether morals, commerce, languages, polite literature be the object of discussion, it is history that must supply her large storehouse of proofs and illustrations.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
You are a modest man; you love quiet and independence, and have a delicacy and reserve in your temper which renders it impossible for you to elbow your way in the world, and be the herald of your own merits. Be content then with a modest retirement, with the esteem of your intimate friends, with the praises of a blameless heart, and a delicate, ingenuous spirit; but resign the splendid distinctions of the world to those who can better scramble for them.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
You speak of beginning the education of your son. The moment he was able to form an idea his education was already begun; the education of circumstances — insensible education—which, like insensible perspiration, is of more constant and powerful effect, and of infinitely more consequence to the habit, than that which is direct and apparent.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
Do not expect the mind of your son is to resemble yours, as your figure is reflected by the image in the glass; he was formed, like you, to use his own judgment, and he claims the high privilege of his nature.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
Geography is best learned along with history; for if the first explains history, the latter gives interest to geography, which without it is but a dry list of names.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The talking restless world shall see,
Spite of the world we'll happy be;
But none shall know
How much we're so,
Save only Love, and we.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
"To Mr. Barbauld"
Who can reckon up the benefits supplied to us by this parent Earth, — ever serviceable, ever indulgent! with how many productions does she reward the labor of the cultivator! how many more does she pour out spontaneously! How faithfully does she keep, with what large interest does she restore, the seed committed to her by the husbandman! What an abundance does she yield, of food for the poor, of delicacies for the rich! Her wealth is inexhaustible; and all that is called riches among men consists in possessing a small portion of her surface.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
Much has been said of the uses of history. They are no doubt many, yet do not apply equally to all: but it is quite sufficient to make it a study worth our pains and time, that it satisfies the desire which naturally arises in every intelligent mind to know the transactions of the country, of the globe in which he lives. Facts, as facts, interest our curiosity and engage our attention.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
There is no one quality gives so much dignity to a character, as consistency of conduct. Even if a man's pursuits be wrong and unjustifiable, yet if they are prosecuted with steadiness and vigor, we cannot withhold our admiration.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
We'll little care what others do,
And where they go, and what they say;
Our bliss, all inward and our own,
Would only tarnished be, by being show.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
"To Mr. Barbauld"
It has been made a question whether friendship can subsist among the vicious. If by vicious be meant those who are void of the social, generous, and affectionate feelings, it is most certain it cannot; because these make the very essence of it. But it is very possible for persons to possess fine feelings, without that steady principle which alone constitutes virtue; and it does not appear why such may not feel a real friendship. It will not indeed be so likely to be lasting, and is often succeeded by bitter enmities.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
It is to speculative people, fond of novel doctrines, and who, by accustoming themselves to make the most fundamental truths the subject of discussion, have divested their minds of that reverence which is generally felt for opinions and practices of long standing, that the world is ever to look for its improvement or reformation. But it is also these speculatists who introduce into it absurdities and errors, more gross than any which have been established by that common consent of numerous individuals which opinions long acted upon must have required for their basis. For systems of the latter class must at least possess one property, — that of being practicable: and there is likewise a presumption that they are, or at least originally were, useful; whereas the opinions of the speculatist may turn out to be utterly incongruous and eccentric.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
A rich, flourishing, cultivated mind, pregnant with inexhaustible stores of entertainment and reflection. A perpetual spring of fresh ideas; and the conscious dignity of superior intelligence. Good heaven! and what reward can you ask besides?
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The first thing to be considered, with respect to education, is the object of it. This appears to me to have been generally misunderstood.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The worst slavery is that which we voluntarily impose upon ourselves; and no chains are so cumbrous and galling as those which we are pleased to wear by way of grace and ornament.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
But if an acquaintance with history thus increases a rational love of our country, it also tends to check those low, illiberal, vulgar prejudices which adhere to the uninformed of every nation. Travelling will also cure them: but to. travel is not within the power of every one. There is no use, but a great deal of harm in fostering a contempt for other nations; in an arrogant assumption of superiority, and the clownish sneer of ignorance at every thing in laws, government, or manners which is not fashioned after our partial ideas and familiar usages. A well-informed person will not be apt to exclaim at every'event out of the com- mon way, that nothing like it has ever happened since the creation of the world, that such atrocities are totally unheard-of in any age or nation, — sentiments we have all of us so often heard of late on the subject of the French Revolution,—when in fact we can scarcely open a page of their history without being struck with similar and equal enormities. Indeed, party spirit is very much cooled and checked by an acquaintance with the events of past times.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays