I have always been of the mind that in a democracy manners are the only effective weapons against the bowie-knife.
James Russell LowellRead
Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Actions are more valuable than sentiments.
This quote suggests that while positive feelings and sentiments are significant, they carry less weight than the impact of genuine actions. It highlights the importance of translating feelings into tangible deeds, emphasizing that love and beauty manifest most authentically through meaningful actions rather than mere words or thoughts.
Themes
ActionSentimentValueBeautifulDeeds
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of taking action.
More from James Russell Lowell
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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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