Theodore Parker Quotes
Theodore Parker was an American Unitarian minister, Transcendentalist, and abolitionist and one of the leading public intellectuals of antebellum New England. His sermon on The Transient and Permanent in Christianity in 1841 scandalized the Unitarian establishment by distinguishing the perennial moral teaching of Jesus from doctrinal accretions, and his subsequent ministry in Boston drew enormous audiences. The quotes below are attributed to Theodore Parker, organized by topic.
Browse Theodore Parker by topic
Theodore Parker on Death
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“Truth never yet fell dead in the streets; it has such affinity with the soul of man, the seed however broadcast will catch somewhere and produce its hundredfold.”
A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion (1842).
Theodore Parker on God
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“Every man has at times in his mind the Ideal of what he should be, but is not. This ideal may be high and complete, or it may be quite low and insufficient; yet in all men, that really seek to improve, it is better than the actual character. Perhaps no one is satisfied with himself, so that he never wishes to be wiser, better, and more holy. Man never falls so low, that he can see nothing higher than himself.”
A Lesson for the Day; or The Christianity of Christ, of the Church, and of Society" in The Dial (October 1940), p. 196. -
“A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion (1842).”
Truth never yet fell dead in the streets; it has such affinity with the soul of man, the seed however broadcast will catch somewhere and produce its hundredfold. -
“A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion (1842).”
Truth stood on one side and Ease on the other; it has often been so. -
“If you lend me your ears, I shall doubtless take your hearts too. That I may not lead you into any wrong, let me warn you of this. Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect. Be true to your own mind and conscience , your heart and your soul . So only can you be true to God .”
Two Sermons (1853), Sermon II : Of the Position and Duty of a Minister.
Theodore Parker on Justice
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“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of the right. I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice. -
Attributed to Theodore Parker:
“Slavery is a wrong absolute, no matter what custom or law may say.”
Theodore Parker on Knowledge
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“Every man has at times in his mind the Ideal of what he should be, but is not. This ideal may be high and complete, or it may be quite low and insufficient; yet in all men, that really seek to improve, it is better than the actual character. Perhaps no one is satisfied with himself, so that he never wishes to be wiser, better, and more holy. Man never falls so low, that he can see nothing higher t”
A Lesson for the Day; or The Christianity of Christ, of the Church, and of Society" in The Dial (October 1940), p. 196. -
“Thoughts on Labour" in The Dial (April 1841).”
The world no doubt grows better; comfort is increased from age to age. What is a luxury in one generation, scarce attainable by the wealthy, becomes at last the possession of most men. Solomon with all his wealth had no carpet on his chamber-floor; no glass in his windows; no shirt to his back. But as the world goes, the increase of comforts does not fall chiefly into the hands of those who create -
“All men desire to be immortal.”
A Sermon on the Immortal Life (20 September 1846).
Theodore Parker on Life
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“A Sermon on the Immortal Life (20 September 1846).”
All men desire to be immortal.
Theodore Parker on Politics
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Attributed to Theodore Parker:
“Democracy is government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people.”
Theodore Parker on Truth
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Attributed to Theodore Parker:
“Truth is so simple that it is regarded as pretentious banality.”
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“Truth stood on one side and Ease on the other; it has often been so.”
A Discourse of Matters Pertaining to Religion (1842).
Theodore Parker on Virtue
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Attributed to Theodore Parker:
“A new world unfolds itself to the soul whenever a single moral principle is grasped.”