The voices / 47 fragments

Hannah More

1745 AD — 1833 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

▷ Play this voice Search within this voice ↗Place in time ↗knowledge character life love death wisdom peace happiness

Historical source references

Sensibility
Florio
Duty · anthology attribution: Hannah More
Genius · anthology attribution: Hannah More
Heaven · anthology attribution: Hannah More
Manners · anthology attribution: Hannah More
Printed citation: Hannah More
Number 1131 · printed citation: Hannah More
Page 103 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: CARE—CAREFUL
Page 150 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: COURAGE
Page 241 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: FRIENDSHIP
Page 561 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: SOUL
Page 634 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: VANITY
Page 652 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: WAR
Page 667 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: WILL—WILLING
Page 673 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: WISDOM
Page 679 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: WOMAN
Page 684 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: WORKS—WORK
Page 1 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: Absence
Page 219 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: Quotation
Page 234 · printed citation: Hannah More · subject: Selfishness
Printed page 276 · quotation 8 · Hannah More · Daniel
Quote1638 · printed citation: HANNAH MORE: Sensibility, Line 227
Complete signed selection 106; printed byline: Hannah More; New York: Dodge Publishing Company, 1901

Archive entries

01c. 1789 AD

To those who know thee not, no words can paint! And those who know thee, know all words are faint!

Hannah More / quote

02c. 1789 AD

Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs.

Hannah More / quote

03c. 1789 AD

In men this blunder still you find,— All think their little set mankind.

Hannah More / quote

04c. 1789 AD

Small habits well pursued betimes May reach the dignity of crimes.

Hannah More / quote

05Undated

Perish discretion when it interferes with duty.

Hannah More / quote

06Undated

Genius, without religion, is only a lamp on the outer gate of a palace. It may serve to cast a gleam of light on those that are without while the inhabitant sits in darkness.

Hannah More / quote

07Undated

Perfect purity, fullness of joy, everlasting freedom, perfect rest, health and fruition, complete security, substantial and eternal good.

Hannah More / quote

08Undated

To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue.

Hannah More / quote

09Undated

Fell luxury! more perilous to youth than storms or quicksands, poverty or chains.

Hannah More / quote

10Undated

In this blunder still you find, / All think their little set mankind.

Hannah More / quote

11Undated

Life is a short day, but it is a working day.

Hannah More / quote

12Undated

Love never reasons, but profusely gives—gives, like a thoughtless prodigal, its all, and trembles then lest it has done too little.

Hannah More / quote

13Undated

Of other tyrants short the strife, / But Indolence is king for life: / The despot twists, with soft control, / Eternal fetters round the soul.

Hannah More / quote

14Undated

'Twas doing nothing was his curse—/ Is there a vice can plague us worse?

Hannah More / quote

15Undated

Unhappy state of kings! it is well the robe of majesty is gay, or who would put it on?

Hannah More / quote

16Undated

We are apt to mistake our vocation by looking out of the way for occasions to exercise great and rare virtues, and by stepping over the ordinary ones that lie directly in the road before us.

Hannah More / quote

17Undated

Method is the very hinge of business.

Hannah More / quote

18Undated

How short is human life! the very breath Which frames my words, accelerates my death.

Hannah More / quote

19Undated

Esteem none happy by their outward air; All have their portion of allotted care, Though wisdom wears the semblance of content, When the full heart with agony is rent, Secludes its anguish from the public view, And by secluding, learns to conquer too; Denied the fond indulgence to complain, The aching heart its peace may best regain. By love directed, and in mercy meant, Are trials suffer’d, and afflictions sent; To stem imperious passion’s furious tide, To curb the insolence of prosperous pride, To wean from earth, and bid our wishes soar To that blest clime where pain shall be no more; Where wearied virtue shall for refuge fly, And every tear be wiped from every eye.

Hannah More / quote

20Undated

True courage is not moved by breath of words; While the rash bravery of boiling blood, Impetuous, knows no settled principle. A feverish tide, it has its ebbs and flows, As spirits rise or fall, as wine inflames, Or circumstances change: but inborn courage, The generous child of fortitude and faith, Holds its firm empire in the constant soul; And like the steadfast pole-star, never once From the same fixed and faithful point declines.

Hannah More / quote

21Undated

To bless mankind with tides of flowing wealth, With power to grace them, or to crown with health, Our little lot denies; but Heaven decrees To all, the gift of minist’ring to ease: The gentle offices of patient love, Beyond all flattery, and all praise above; The mild forbearance of another’s fault, The taunting word suppress’d as soon as thought; On these Heaven bade the sweets of life depend; And crush’d ill fortune when she gave a friend. A solitary blessing few can find; Our joys with those we love are intertwined; And he whose wakeful tenderness removes Th’ obstructing thorn which wounds the breast he loves, Smoothes not another’s rugged path alone, But scatters roses to adorn his own.

Hannah More / quote

22Undated

The soul on earth is an immortal guest, Condemned to starve at an unreal feast: A spark, which upwards tends by nature’s force; A stream, diverted from its parent source; A drop dissevered from the boundless sea; A moment, parted from eternity; A pilgrim panting for the rest to come; An exile, anxious for his native home.

Hannah More / quote

23Undated

How wise a short retreat to steal, The vanity of life to feel, And from its cares to fly: To act one calm, domestic scene, Earth’s bustle and the grave between, Retire, and learn to die!

Hannah More / quote

24Undated

O war!—what, what art thou? At once the proof and scourge of man’s fall’n state? After the brightest conquest, what appears Of all thy glories? for the vanquish’d chains! For the proud victors, what? alas! to reign O’er desolated nations!

Hannah More / quote