The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.
James Russell LowellRead
I have always been of the mind that in a democracy manners are the only effective weapons against the bowie-knife.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In a democracy, civility and good manners can be more powerful than aggression or violence.
James Russell Lowell's quote suggests that in a democratic society, the way we communicate and treat one another is crucial. Instead of resorting to physical violence or aggressive tactics, the power of polite debate and respectful discourse serves as a means of resolving conflict and fostering understanding among individuals. This highlights the importance of civility in maintaining a healthy society.
Themes
DemocracyMannersCivilityCommunicationConflict Resolution
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about political issues, I shared a quote by James Russell Lowell to emphasize the importance of respectful dialogue.
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All quotes βNot failure, but low aim, is crime.
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Good luck is the willing handmaid of upright, energetic character, and conscientious observance of duty.
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Puritanism, believing itself quick with the seed of religious liberty, laid, without knowing it, the egg of democracy.
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Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.
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Old events have modern meanings; only that survives of past history which finds kindred in all hearts and lives.
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