James Russell Lowell Author

Gender: Male
Citizenship: United States
Born: Feb 22, 1819
Died: Aug 12, 1891

James Russell Lowell was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets who rivaled the popularity of British poets. These poets usually used conventional forms and meters in their poetry, making them suitable for families entertaining at their fireside.

Lowell graduated from Harvard College in 1838, despite his reputation as a troublemaker, and went on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School. He published his first collection of poetry in 1841 and married Maria White in 1844. He and his wife had several children, though only one survived past childhood. The couple soon became involved in the movement to abolish slavery, with Lowell using poetry to express his anti-slavery views and taking a job in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the editor of an abolitionist newspaper. After moving back to Cambridge, Lowell was one of the founders of a journal called The Pioneer, which lasted only three issues. He gained notoriety in 1848 with the publication of A Fable for Critics, a book-length poem satirizing contemporary critics and poets.

Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor. government

Death is delightful. Death is dawn, The waking from a weary night Of fevers unto truth and light. death & truth

As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one a friend. change

The greatest homage we can pay to truth, is to use it. truth

Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change. anger, change & sadness

Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne. truth

Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that day, which must be done, whether you like it or not. God & morning

Every person born into this world their work is born with them. work

Truth, after all, wears a different face to everybody, and it would be too tedious to wait till all were agreed. truth

One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning. experience

On one issue at least, men and women agree they both distrust women. women

Freedom is the only law which genius knows. freedom

Democracy is the form of government that gives every man the right to be his own oppressor. government

To educate the intelligence is to expand the horizon of its wants and desires. intelligence

The heart forgets its sorrow and ache. sympathy

Once to every person and nation come the moment to decide. In the conflict of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side. truth

Not failure, but low aim, is crime. failure

Endurance is the crowning quality, And patience all the passion of great hearts. greatness & patience

The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions. being alone & change

Greatly begin. Though thou have time, but for a line, be that sublime. Not failure, but low aim is crime. failure

Light is the symbol of truth. truth

Solitude is as needful to the imagination as society is wholesome for the character. imagination & society

Children are God's Apostles, sent forth, day by day, to preach of love, and hope, and peace. God, hope & peace

A great man is made up of qualities that meet or make great occasions. greatness

James Russell Lowell Author

St. Patrick's Day March 17, 2025