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How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man is enthroned visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul, the soul reveals itself in the voice only.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The human voice is a deep reflection of one's soul, expressing what cannot be seen in the mind or heart.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow beautifully articulates the profound connection between the voice and the essence of a person. While the intellect may be visible through expression and demeanor, it is the voice that truly conveys the depth of the soul, revealing emotions and truths that are otherwise hidden. This quote invites us to appreciate the power of our voices as the ultimate expression of our inner selves.

Themes

VoiceSoulExpressionHumanityCommunication

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about personal expression, one might quote Longfellow to emphasize the importance of using one's voice.

More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

O suffering, sad humanity! O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lips in misery, Longing, yet afraid to die, Patient, though sorely tried!
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There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.
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Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
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To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.
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God is not dead; nor doth He sleep; ... _x000D_ The wrong shall fail,_x000D_ The right prevail,_x000D_ With peace on earth, good will to men.
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In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
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