Fredrika Bremer Quotes

Ah! the curse of slavery, as the common phrase goes, has fallen not merely on the black but perhaps at this moment still more upon the white, because it has warped his sense of truth and has degraded his moral nature. The position and the treatment of the blacks, however, really improve from year to year; while the whites do not seem to advance in enlightenment.

Who has not experienced how, on near acquaintance, plainness becomes beautified, and beauty loses its charm, exactly according to the quality of the heart and mind? And from this cause am I of opinion that the want of outward beauty never disquiets a noble nature or will be regarded as a misfortune. It never can prevent people from being amiable and beloved in the highest degree.

If you will learn the seriousness of life, and its beauty also, live for your husband; make him happy.

The humble soul is like the violet, which grows low, hangs the head downward, and hides itself with its own leaves.

Serenity of manners is the zenith of beauty.

I have never as yet gone a step to see a literary lion; but I would go a considerable way to see Emerson, this pioneer in the moral forests of the New World, who applies his axe to the roots of the old trees to hew them down and to open the paths for new planting.

Gentle feelings produce profoundly beneficial effects upon stern natures. It is the spring rain which melts the ice-covering of the earth, and causes it to open to the beams of heaven.

These Americans believe that everything is possible.

People seek for the spiritual champagne, but they mistake what it is.

What a glorious new Scandinavia might not Minnesota become! Here the Swede would find again his clear, romantic lakes, the plains of Scane rich in corn, and the valleys of Norrland; here the Norwegian would find his rapid rivers … The climate, the situation, the character of the scenery agrees with our people better than that of any other American States.

for the first time I tasted this tropical fruit, which people here are so fond of. … I could have fancied I was biting into soap. I have a notion that we shall not become very good friends, the banana and I.

A fly is a very light burden; but if it were perpetually to return and settle on one’s nose, it might weary us of our very lives.