Henry Ward Beecher was an American social reformer and clergyman who is respected for his work towards the abolition of slavery. He has a profound mark on modern Christianity. On June 24 June 1813, Henry was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, to Lyman and Roxana Beecher. Lyman Beecher was a well-known Evangelist of his time, and this was probably one of the first exposure of Henry to Christianity.
In the year 1847, Beecher was offered the designation of a pastor in Plymouth church which he accepted. His fame grew quite quickly due to his exceptional and charismatic oratorical skills. His speech often has humour and slang, which made his words quite relatable for his audience. He soon also grew interested in social service and social reforms. Just like Harriet Beecher, his brother Henry became interested in the abolitionist movement. Henry also supported the Women's suffrage movement, championed Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and spoke about the parallel nature of Christianity and Darwin's theory. Henry's fame and success grew to such an extent that his biography was named 'The Most Famous Man in America.' Below are some of the famous Henry Ward Beecher Quotes.
Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.
Each book is like a whole universe in itself. Books give us knowledge and wisdom. And while books are not supposed to be kept as a mere showpiece, nothing looks more elegant than books kept on furniture.
The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
Being ungrateful is the biggest curse a man can be cursed with. A heart that is not thankful for his things cannot possibly acquire qualities such as mercy. It takes character and integrity to forgive. On the other hand, a man who is thankful for his things will keep discovering how lucky he is.
Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry.
Anger is a human quality that compels a human to speak the absolute truth. An angry word cannot be false. When a person is angry, he shows his real character. Therefore, we must keenly listen to an angry man, for he is speaking out his real, unfiltered mind.
All words are pegs to hang ideas on.
Words are very powerful tools for communication. We communicate to put forth our ideas. And thus, to deliver an accurate message or present our idea, we must use our words wisely.
Every artist dips his brush in his soul and paints his nature into his pictures.
An artist often shapes his art with his emotions. He pours his soul out to make a masterpiece. Art is nothing but an extension of an artist's heart. Each canvas is painted with a soul. Each poetry is written with a heart.
Continue reading some of the best Henry Ward Beecher Quotes....
A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.
People who spend their time in libraries are the most erudite. While some may think that buying books is a waste of money and space, that is not true, books teach us how to live. Books entertain us with tales. Books are not items of luxury but items of necessity.
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.
People often equate happiness to be pleasure and happiness to be in big houses. But happiness lies in the simple things in life. Happiness lies in hugs, kisses, watching a sunrise, eating a hearty meal, and many such small things. It is then up to us how we extract this happiness from little things.
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road.
To deal with the hardships of life, people need moments of hearty laughter. Humour makes like fun as well as easier. Research also states that people who laugh during adversities are the most mature. Without this important tool for our mental well being a person more or less lives a very difficult and even tragic existence. Laughing is the rainbow to the storms of life.
Now comes the mystery! (last words)
Interestingly, Henry's last words were these. Death is a mystery. While many philosophies and religions try to explain what comes after death, honestly, no one is sure. So death is the biggest mystery of human existence, and these words are chosen by Henry as his last words.
Some more Henry Ward Beecher Quotes....
No man is more cheated than the selfish man.
While a man possessing selfish traits feels that he cheats everyone, it is the opposite. A selfish man can be deceived into buying anything in the name of cheap. A selfish man most often cheats on himself rather than others.
There are more quarrels smothered by just shutting your mouth, and holding it shut, than by all the wisdom in the world.
One of the most irritating traits people possess is being quarrelsome. When we encounter such people, our first instinct may be to satisfy our ego and win the argument, but the truth is these quarrelsome people cannot keep their mouths shut. So the only way we win the argument is by learning to be quiet and offer no wisdom to a person who wants none.
Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.
Troubles and hardships weigh heavy on the human heart. It seems that the tougher we get, the tougher the challenges get as well. But if we observe keenly, troubles help us become people of deeper character and result in our growth. So it is safe to say that God presents adversities to help us become our better selves.
No man is sane who does not know how to be insane on the proper occasions.
The key to living a happy life is never letting the kid inside you die. Kids are crazy, they do insane things, and kids, indeed, are the happiest humans. Keep that insanity intact in life. When adversities get out of hand, use that insanity to get insane. An uptight person has a far difficult time overcoming hardships, but an insane person has his ways.
Few more Henry Ward Beecher Quotes....
We never know the love of a parent till we become one.
No one in the world loves us as our parents do. But no matter how hard we try, we never have the compassion and empathy of a parent unless and until we become one. A parent's love for his/her child is immense and infinite; such unreal love does not exist in a childless soul.
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
We come into the world with nothing, and we take with us nothing. Possessing was never the point of living. It does not matter what we have with us, but it matters what we give, what legacy we leave behind, and how people remember us. Real wealth in life is having a big heart which offers.
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself and be lenient to everybody else.
Henry feels that self-discipline is the way to build oneself. We must be strict with ourselves. Like fire forges the sharpest of steel, we must forge ourselves with self-discipline. Being easy with oneself will only result in weakness. But when it comes to other people, we must be kind.
Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.
It is famously said that 'waves build a skilled surfer'. There is no successful man in the world who hasn't faced adversities. Shadows and darkness are part of human life. In such adverse times, a person reflects on his personality and keenly observes himself. It is in those times that true character is forged.
We should not judge people by their peak of excellence, but by the distance, they have traveled from the point where they started.
Life is full of struggles. Sometimes people win and sometimes get defeated. Winning and becoming excellent at something is wonderful. But to reach that excellence, each one has a different struggle. By their struggles and how far they've come should be how people and their success should be judged.
Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.
Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world. But love always asks for attention. Love cannot sustain ignorance. Love is like a lamp that requires fuel, or love will fade away.
The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.
People who strive to achieve something with perseverance have a strong desire to achieve that thing. A person who perseveres is resilient. Whereas a person who avoids things and is too comfortable in his/her comfort zone is a person of excuse. He avoids things to the extent that it is impossible to convince him to get out of his comfort.
