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Amos Bronson Alcott Quotes

Writer

American writer, philosopher, and educator, born on November 29, 1799, and died on March 4, 1888. Amos Bronson Alcott is known for his contributions to educational reform and the development of individual freedom.

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Famous Amos Bronson Alcott Quotes

“Books are the most mannerly of companions, accessible at all times, in all moods, frankly declaring the author's mind, without offense.”

Mind Book Reading Mood All Time Companion Offense Books And Reading Declaring

Author:Amos Bronson Alcott

“One cannot celebrate books sufficiently. After saying his best, still something better remains to be spoken in their praise. As with friends, one finds new beauties at every interview, and would stay long in the presence of those choice companions. As with friends, he may dispense with a wide acquaintance. Few and choice. The richest minds need not large libraries.”

Needs Mind May Long Stills Book Choices Praise Remains Library Wide Celebrate Interviews Companion Acquaintance Something Better Library Books

Book:Table-talk

Source: Table-talk

“Of books in our time the variety is so voluminous, and they follow so fast from the press, that one must be a swift reader to acquaint himself even with their titles, and wise to discern what are worth reading.”

Book Reading Wise Reader Presses Variety Titles Our Time Reading Books Worth Reading

Book:Table-talk

Source: Table-talk

“Children are illuminated text-books, breviaries of doctrine, living bodies of divinity, open always and inviting their elders to peruse the characters inscribed on the lovely leaves.”

Children Book Character Body Lovely Doctrine Divinity Elders Inviting

Book:Table-talk

Source: Table-talk

“The books that charmed us in youth recall the delight ever afterwards; we are hardly persuaded there are any like them, any deserving our equal affections.”

Book Youth Equal Affection Delight Recalls Deserving Ever After Charmed

Author:Amos Bronson Alcott

“Our favorites are few; since only what rises from the heart reaches it, being caught and carried on the tongues of men wheresoever love and letters journey.”

Men Heart Book Journey Letters Caught Tongue Authorship

Book:Tablets

Source: Tablets

“Experience converts us to ourselves when books fail us.”

Book Failing Experience

Book:Table-talk

Source: Table-talk

“A good book is fruitful of other books; it perpetuates its fame from age to age, and makes eras in the lives of its readers.”

Book Age Reader Fame Eras Good Book

Book:Tablets

Source: Tablets

“My favorite books have a personality and complexion as distinctly drawn as if the author's portrait were framed into the paragraphs and smiled upon me as I read his illustrated pages.”

Ifs Book Personality Pages My Favorite Portraits Paragraph Framed Complexion Favorite Book

Book:Concord Days

Source: Concord Days

“One must be rich in thought and character to owe nothing to books, though preparation is necessary to profitable reading; and the less reading is better than more;--book-struck men are of all readers least wise, however knowing or learned.”

Men Book Character Reading Knowing Rich Wise Reader Preparation Profitable

Book:Tablets

Source: Tablets

“Observation more than books and experience more than persons, are the prime educators.”

Inspirational Persons Book Observation Analysis Prime Educator

Author:Amos Bronson Alcott

“That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit.”

Book Funny Reading Reader Expectations Profit Delight Reading Books Good Book Book Reading New Books Books And Reading Book Readers Reading Good Books This Is A Book Good Reading Inspiring Reading

Author:Amos Bronson Alcott

“Nature is the armory of genius. Cities serve it poorly, books and colleges at second hand; the eye craves the spectacle of the horizon; of mountain, ocean, river and plain, the clouds and stars; actual contact with the elements, sympathy with the seasons as they rise and roll.”

Book Hands Eye Stars Nature Cities College Genius Mountain Elements Ocean Rivers Seasons Clouds Contact Horizon Crave Second Hand Clouds And Stars

Book:Tablets

Source: Tablets

“The history of books shows the humblest origin of some of the most valued, wrought as these were out of obscure materials by persons whose names thereafter became illustrious. The thumbed volumes, now so precious to thousands, were compiled from personal experiences and owe their interest to touches of inspiration of which the writer was less author than amanuensis, himself the voiced word of life for all times.”

Persons Book Shows Inspiration Names Interest Materials All Time Volume Obscure Personal Experiences Origin Of Life

Book:Table-talk

Source: Table-talk

“One must be rich in thought and character to owe nothing to books.”

Book Character Rich Lovers Book Lover

Book:Tablets

Source: Tablets

“Of gifts, there seems none more becoming to offer a friend than a beautiful book.”

Book Seems Beautiful Becoming Offers Beautiful Books

Author:Amos Bronson Alcott

About the Author

Born: November 29, 1799
Died: March 4, 1888
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 156

Books & Sources

Table-talkRelated source material

TabletsRelated source material

Concord DaysRelated source material

Conversations with Children on the GospelsRelated source material

The journals of Bronson AlcottRelated source material

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