James Russell Lowell Quotes

As if one could know the good a person is capable of, when one doesn't know the bad he might do.

You were true to her, even if she was not to you. Never repent of your own goodness, child. To stay true in the face of evil is a feat of great strength.” “Strength,” she said with a little laugh. “I gave her strength, and look what she did with it.

Some have little power to do good, and have likewise little strength to resist evil.

For when I came into the silent assemblies of God's people I felt a secret power among them which touched my heart; and as I gave way unto it I found the evil weakening in me and the good raised up

The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and sympathy are also stronger than ever before.

It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all the powers of evil in the world and it will emerge triumphant.

Brimstone once told me that to stay true in the face of evil is a feat of strength.

The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat.

In innocence there is no strength against evil, said Sparrowhawk, a little wryly. But there is strength in it for good.

Of all evil I deem you capable: Therefore I want good from you. Verily, I have often laughed at the weaklings who thought themselves good because they had no claws.

Evil cannot and will not be vanquished by evil. Dark will only swallow dark and deepen. The good and the light are the keenest weapons.

Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things under itself, it should be able to maintain its greatness, even in the midst of miseries.

The malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous.

"Be fearless," is one thing. I'm still learning what that means, to be fearless. It doesn't just mean to be fearless in your work, but also in life. Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. Now, I'm having to learn to be patient and be where I am. Because I'm driven, I have a hard time being patient. The universe is like, "You're not ready! Sit back and wait." Everything will line up just how it's supposed to.

Virtue is the roughest way, but proves at night a bed of down.

Man’s strength resides in his capacity and desire to elevate himself, so as to attain the good. To travel step by step toward the heights. And that is all he can do. To reach heaven and remain there is beyond his powers: Even Moses had to return to earth. Is it the same for evil?

The way to avoid evil is not by maiming our passions, but by compelling them to yield their vigor to our moral nature.

The demagogue is usually sly, a detractor of others, a professor of humility and disinterestedness, a great stickler for equality as respects all above him, a man who acts in corners, and avoids open and manly expositions of his course, calls blackguards gentlemen, and gentlemen folks, appeals to passions and prejudices rather than to reason, and is in all respects, a man of intrigue and deception, of sly cunning and management.

We cannot give up in the face of evil. God is Love and he has defeated evil through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Be the first to seek to bring good, do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it.

Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing.

The chief cause of our misery is less the violence of our passions than the feebleness of our virtues.

Discipline is built by consistently performing small acts of courage.

Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.

The war of good and evil is mightiest in mightiest souls, and even in the darkest time the heart will maintain its right against the hardest creed.