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actions American ancient Greece believe born free bosom cause churches citizens clergy conceive consequences creeds discourses distinguish duties earth enlightened equal error evil examine exer existing eyes facts faculties faith false farther fear feelings fellow creatures Fourth of July FRANCES WRIGHT French revolution friends halls of science happiness hath heads anatomy heart human improvement human mind humankind ignorance imagination importance individual institutions instruction intellectual interests investigation ipse dixit labor land LECTURE ledge Let us enquire liberty look matter means mental moral nature never New-York noble energies object observation opinions ourselves patriotism peace perceive persecution popular practice present principle race reason reform religion religious republican rience sectarian seek sensations senses simple socinian sophisms Sparta spirit superstition supply Tammany Hall teach teachers things unseen tion truth understand vice virtue wise words
Popular passages
Page 2 - In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States. entitled, " an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an act, entitled, " an act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned...
Page 44 - ... human improvement must advance but feebly. It is in vain that we would circumscribe the power of one half of our race, and that half by far the most important and influential. If they exert it not for good, they will for evil ; if they advance not knowledge, they will perpetuate ignorance.
Page 33 - So long as the mental and moral instruction of man ia left solely in the hands of hired servants of the public — let them be teachers of religion, professors of colleges, authors of books, or editors of journals or periodical publications, dependent upon their literary labours for their daily bread, so long shall "we hear but half the truth ; and well if we hear so much. Our teachers, political, scientific, moral, or religious ; our writers, grave or gay, are compelled to administer to our prejudices...
Page 34 - ... vice. A familiar instance will bring this home to an American audience. I have been led to inspect, far and wide, the extensive and beautiful section of this country which is afflicted with slavery. I have heard in the cities, villages, and forests of this afflicted region, religious shepherds of all persuasions haranguing their flocks; and I have never heard one bold enough to comment on the evil which saps the industry, vitiates the morals, and threatens the tranquility of the country.
Page 168 - If possessed of property, a contribution would be paid from its revenue to the common educational fund ; if unprovided, they would be sustained out of the same. In these nurseries of a free nation, no inequality must be allowed to enter. Fed at a common board ; clothed in a common garb, uniting neatness with simplicity and convenience ; raised in the exercise of common duties, in the acquirement of the same knowledge and practice of the same industry, varied only according to individual taste and...
Page 169 - Fed at a common board ; clothed in a common garb, uniting neatness with simplicity and convenience ; raised in the exercise of common duties, in the acquirement of the same knowledge and practice of the same industry, varied only according to individual taste and capabilities ; in the exercise of the same virtues, in the enjoyment of the same pleasures ; in the study of the same nature ; in pursuit of the same object — their own and each other's happiness — say ! would not such a race, when arrived...
Page 50 - ... the rank of freemen to that of tyrants or slaves. Easy it were to enumerate the many laws by which, as citizens, we violate our common liberties; the many regulations, habits, practices, and opinions, by which, as human beings, we violate the same. Easy it were? Alas! and say I so? when to enumerate all these our sins against liberty, would be well nigh to enumerate all that we do, and feel, and think, and say! But let us confine ourselves within a familiar though most important example. Who...
Page 55 - Think it no longer indifferent whether the mothers of the rising generation are wise or foolish. Think it not indifferent whether your own companions are ignorant or enlightened. Think it not indifferent whether those who are to form the opinions, sway the habits, decide the destinies, of the species — and that not through their children only, but through their lovers and husbands — are enlightened friends or capricious mistresses, efficient coadjutors or careless servants, reasoning beings or...
Page 168 - ... enlightened and united generation. Preparatory to, or connected with, such measures, a registry should be opened by the state, with offices through all the townships, where on the birth of every child, or within a certain time appointed, the same should be entered, together with the names of its parents. When two years old, the parental tax should be payable, and the juvenile institution open for the child's reception; from which time forward it would be under the protective care and guardianship...
Page 62 - Every interest dearest to the heart, every prospect most exhilirating to the mind, is involved in the question and trembles on the decision. Oh! then, let us gird up our minds in courage, and compose them in peace. Let us cast aside fear and suspicion, suspend our jealousies and disputes, acknowledge the rights of others and assert our own. And oh ! let us understand that the first and noblest of these rights is, the cultivation of our reason. We have seen what just knowledge is ; we have ascertained...