Margaret Fuller
» Books and Reading » “A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.”
» Books and Reading » “It does not follow because many books are written by persons born in America that there exists an American literature. Books which imitate or represent the thoughts and life of Europe do not constitute an American literature. Before such can exist, an original idea must animate this nation and fresh currents of life must call into life fresh thoughts along the shore.”
» Critics and Criticism » “Essays, entitled critical, are epistles addressed to the public, through which the mind of the recluse relieves itself of its impressions.”
» Critics and Criticism » “There are two modes of criticism. One which crushes to earth without mercy all the humble buds of Phantasy, all the plants that, though green and fruitful, are also a prey to insects or have suffered by drought. It weeds well the garden, and cannot believe the weed in its native soil may be a pretty, graceful plant. There is another mode which enters into the natural history of every thing that breathes and lives, which believes no impulse to be entirely in vain, which scrutinizes circumstances, motive and object before it condemns, and believes there is a beauty in natural form, if its law and purpose be understood.”
» Genius » “It is not because the touch of genius has roused genius to production, but because the admiration of genius has made talent ambitious, that the harvest is still so abundant.”
» Life and Living » “Men, for the sake of getting a living forget to live.”
» Love » “Two persons love in one another the future good which they aid one another to unfold.”
» Nature » “Nature provides exceptions to every rule.”
» Popularity » “Beware of over-great pleasure in being popular or even beloved.”
» Reality » “It is astonishing what force, purity, and wisdom it requires for a human being to keep clear of falsehoods.”
» Women » “The especial genius of women I believe to be electrical in movement, intuitive in function, spiritual in tendency.”
