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Amos Bronson Alcott

b: Wolcott, Connecticut, Nov 29, 1799

d: Boston, Massachusetts, Mar 4, 1888

American. Educator. Friend of Emerson, Thoreau; founded Concord Scholl of Philosophy, 1879.

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"To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

A good book is fruitful of other books; it perpetuates its fame from age to age, and makes eras in the lives of its readers.

A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.

A man defines his standing at the court of chastity by his views of women.

A sip is the most than mortals are permitted from any goblet of delight.

A true teacher defends his students against his own personal influences.

Agriculture, for an honorable and high-minded man" says Xenophon,"is the best of all occupations and arts by which men procure the means of living.

Civilization degrades the many to exalt the few.

Conversation is an abandonment to ideas, a surrender to persons.

Debate is angular, conversation circular and radiant of the underlying unity.

Debate is masculine; conversation feminine.

Dignity of manner always conveys a sense of reserved force.

Divination seems heightened and raised to its highest power in woman.

Education may work wonders as well in warping the genius of individuals as in seconding it.

Egotists cannot converse, they talk to themselves only.

Enthusiasm imparts itself magnetically and fuses all into one happy and harmonious unity of feeling and sentiment.

Equanimity is the gem in virtue's chaplet, and St. Sweetness the loveliest in her calendar.

Experience converts us to ourselves when books fail us.

First find the man in yourself if you will inspire manliness in others.

Good discourse sinks differences and seeks agreements.

I consider it the best part of an education to have been born and brought up in the country.

Life is one, religion one, creeds are many and diverse.

Many can argue; not many converse.

My favorite books have a personality and complexion as distinctly drawn as if the author's portrait were framed into the paragraphs and smiled upon me as I read his illustrated pages.

Nor do we accept, as genuine the person not characterized by this blushing bashfulness, this youthfulness of heart, this sensibility to the sentiment of suavity and self-respect. Modesty is bred of self-reverence. Fine manners are the mantle of fair minds. None are truly great without this ornament.

Observation more than books, experience rather than persons, are the prime educators.

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.

One's outlook is a part of his virtue.

Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams.

Our favorites are few: since only what rises from the heart reaches it, being caught and carried on the tongues of men wheresoever love and letters journey.

Our friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and truly.

Our ideals are our better selves.

Our notion of the perfect society embraces the family as its center and ornament, and this paradise is not secure until children appear to animate and complete the picture.

Strengthen me by sympathizing with my strength not my weakness.

Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.

That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit.

The eyes have a property in things and territories not named in any title-deeds, and are the owners of our choicest possessions.

The less of routine, the more of life.

The richest minds need not large libraries.

The surest sign of age is loneliness.

The surest sign of age is loneliness. While one finds company in himself and his pursuits, he cannot be old, whatever his years may be.

The traveled mind is the catholic mind educated from exclusiveness and egotism.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.He inspires self-distrust.He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him.He will have no disciple.

There is virtue in country houses, in gardens and orchards, in fields, streams, and groves, in rustic recreations and plain manners, that neither cities nor universities enjoy.

Thought means life, since those who do not think so do not live in any high or real sense. Thinking makes the man.

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age.

Traveling is no fool's errand to him who carries his eyes and itinerary along with him.

We climb to heaven most often on the ruins of our cherished plans, finding our failures were successes.

We mount to heaven mostly on the ruins of our cherished schemes, finding our failures were successes.

Where there is a mother in the home, matters go well.

While one finds company in himself and his pursuits, he cannot feel old, no matter what his years may be.

Who knows, the mind has the key to all things besides.

Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps, Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvest reaps.

Who speaks to the instincts speaks to the deepest in mankind, and finds the readiest response.

Yet the deepest truths are best read between the lines, and, for the most part, refuse to be written.