Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands are left without education.
Robert Charles WinthropRead
The noblest contribution which any man can make for the benefit of posterity, is that of character. The richest bequest which any man can leave to the youth of his native land, is that of a shining, spotless example.
Interpretation
Character is the most valuable legacy one can leave for future generations.
This quote emphasizes the idea that the greatest gift a person can offer to future generations is his or her character. It implies that a life lived with integrity, virtue, and exemplary behavior serves as an inspiration and guiding example for the youth, influencing them to strive for similar values and conduct in their own lives.
In practice
In a graduation speech, a speaker might use this quote to stress the importance of character over material wealth.
Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands are left without education.
Fly, dotard, fly! With thy wise dreams and fables of the sky.
To do evil a human being must first of all believe that what he's doing is good... Ideology - that is what gives devildoing its long-sought justification and gives the evildoer the necessary steadfastness and determination. That is the social theory which helps to make his acts seem good instead of bad in his own and others' eyes, so that he won't hear reproaches and curses but will receive praise and honors.
One of the most persistent ambiguities that we face is that everybody talks about peace as a goal. However, it does not take sharpest-eyed sophistication to discern that while everbody talks about peace, peace has become practically nobody's business among the power-wielders. Many men cry Peace! Peace! but they refuse to do the things that make for peace.
A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.
The dangers of not thinking clearly are much greater now than ever before. It's not that there's something new in our way of thinking - it's that credulous and confused thinking can be much more lethal in ways it was never before.
Cursed be the verse, how well so e'er it flow, That tends to make one worthy man my foe.
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