“Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof it is a temporary expedient often wise in party politics almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.”

— James Russell Lowell

compromise

“The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinion.”

— James Russell Lowell

creating positive change

“In creating the only hard thing's to begin A grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak.”

— James Russell Lowell

creation creativity

“Nature they say doth dote And cannot make a man Save on some worn-out plan Repeating us by rote.”

— James Russell Lowell

creation

“Darkness is strong and so is Sin But surely God endures forever!”

— James Russell Lowell

dark

“The right to be a cussed fool Is safe from all devices human It's common (ez a gin'I rule) To every critter born of woman.”

— James Russell Lowell

fools

“Good heavens of what uncostly material is our earthly happiness composed ... if we only knew it. What incomes have we not had from a flower and how unfailing are the dividends of the seasons.”

— James Russell Lowell

forgiveness

“Talent is that which is in a man's power genius is that in whose power a man is.”

— James Russell Lowell

genius

“Not failure but low aim is crime.”

— James Russell Lowell

goals

“Whom the heart of man shuts out Sometimes the heart of God takes in.”

— James Russell Lowell

god

“Let us be of good cheer remembering that misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.”