Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Quote by Maltbie Davenport Babcock

“The root of honesty is an honest intention, the distinct and deliberate purpose to be true, to handle facts as they are, and not as we wish them to be. Facts lend themselves to manipulation. Many a butcher's hand is worth more than its weight in gold. What we want things to be, we come to see them to be; and the tailor pulls the coat and the truth into a perfect fit from his point of view.”

Quote by Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Create image

Author

Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Maltbie Davenport Babcock was an American writer renowned for his religious and inspirational poetry. Born on August 3, 1858, he was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Babcock's work often reflected his deep religious beliefs and his desire to inspire others. He passed away on May 18, 1901. more

You May Also Like

“Life is what we are alive to. It is not length, but breadth. To be alive only to appetite, pleasure, pride, money-making, and not to goodness and kindness, purity and love, history, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God and eternal hopes, it is to be all but dead.”

LifeLife IsStarsPleasureKindnessAliveFlowerPrideGoodnessEternalAnd LoveMaking MoneyPurityLengthAppetiteBreadthGoodness And KindnessPurity And Love
Book:Thoughts for Every-day Living from the Spoken and Written Words of Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Create image

“Lord, let me make this rule To think of life as school, And try my best To stand each test, And do my work, And nothing shirk. Should someone else outshine This dullard head of mine, Should I be sad? I will be glad. To do my best Is Thy behest. Some day the bell will sound, Some day my heart will bound, As with a shout That school is out And lessons done, I homeward run.”

ThinkingShouldTryingHeartDoneRunningSchoolSoundLordMinesMy HeartLessonsTestsLet MeBoundsGladBellsShould IShirk
Author:Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Create image

“Spirituality is best manifested on the ground, not in the air. Rapturous day-dreams, flights of heavenly fancy, longings to see the Invisible, are less expensive and less expressive than the plain doing of duty. To have bread excite thankfulness and a drink of water send the heart to God is better than sighs for the unattainable. To plow a straight furrow on Monday or dust a room well on Tuesday or kiss a bumped forehead on Wednesday is worth more than the most ecstatic thrill under Sunday eloquence. Spirituality is seeing God in common things, and showing God in common tasks.”

WellsHeartDreamSpiritualityWaterRoomsCommonSeeingAirDutyDrinkKissingTasksLongingInvisibleBreadFlightDustFancyExpensiveHeavenlySundayThrillSighMondayThankfulnessEloquenceForeheadsEcstaticTuesdayExpressiveWednesdayUnattainableCommon Things
Book:Thoughts for Every-day Living from the Spoken and Written Words of Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Create image

“Suggestion is generally better than Definition. There is a seeming dogmatism about Definition that is often repellent, while Suggestion, on the contrary, disarms suspicion and summons to co-operation and experiment. Definition provokes discussion. Suggestion provokes to love and good works. Defining is limiting. Suggestion is enlarging. Defining calls a halt; Suggestion calls for an advance. Defining involves the peril of contentment: "I am here, I rest." "Thus far," says Definition, and draws a map. "Westward," cries Suggestion, and builds a boat.”

CryDrawsDefinitionsContraryExperimentsBoatDiscussionOperationsContentmentMapsSuspicionGood WorkProvokingSuggestionsDefiningPerilSeemingHaltDogmatism
Book:Thoughts for Every-day Living from the Spoken and Written Words of Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Create image