English poet and essayist (1743-1825)
The shadows spread apace; while meekened Eve,
Her cheek yet warm with blushes, slow retires
Through the Hesperian gardens of the west,
And shuts the gates of day.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
"A Summer Evening's Meditation"
The fact is, that no man, whatever his system may be, refrains from instilling prejudices into his child in any matter he has much at heart.
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
It is the fault of the present age, owing to the freer commerce that different ranks and professions now enjoy with each other, that characters are not marked with sufficient strength: the several classes run too much into one another. We have fewer pedants, it is true, but we have fewer striking originals.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The dead of midnight is the noon of thought.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
"A Summer Evening's Meditation"
Friendship, where it is quite sincere and affectionate, free from affectation or interested views, is one of the greatest blessings of life. It doubles our joys, and it lessens our sorrows, when we are able to pour both into the bosom of one who takes the tenderest part in all our interests, who is to us as another self. We love to communicate all our feelings; and it is in the highest degree grateful where we can do it to one who will. enter into them all; who takes an interest in everything that befalls us; before whom we can freely indulge even our little weaknesses and foibles, and show our minds as it were undressed; who will take part in all our schemes, advise us in any emergency; who rejoices in our company, and who, we are sure, thinks of us in our absence.
ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD
Tales, Poems and Essays
The more history approaches to biography the more interest it excites.
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
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
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 a cast of manners peculiar and becoming to each age, sex, and profession; one, therefore, should not throw out illiberal and common-place censures against another. Each is perfect in its kind -- a woman as a woman; a tradesman as a tradesman.
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"
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
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
The most characteristic mark of a great mind is to choose some one important object, and pursue it through life.
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
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 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"
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