James Fenimore Cooper quotes - page 2

James Fenimore Cooper was an American novelist and historian, celebrated for his adventure stories set on the American frontier. His most famous work is "The Last of the Mohicans," which is part of the Leatherstocking Tales series. He greatly influenced the development of American literature with his vivid depictions of nature and complex characters. Here are 57 of his quotes:

'Tis grand! 'tis solemn! 'tis an education of itself to look upon!

James Fenimore Cooper

I can never tire of speaking of the bridges of Paris. By day and by night have I paused on them to gaze at their views; the word not being too comprehensive for the crowds and groupings of objects that are visible from their arches.

James Fenimore Cooper

I sometimes wish I had been educated a Catholic, in order to unite the poetry of religion with its higher principles. Are they necessarily inseparable? Is man really so much of a philosopher, that he can conceive of truth in its abstract purity, and divest life and the affections of all the aids of the imagination?

James Fenimore Cooper

It is not a very difficult task to make what is commonly called an amusing book of travels. Any one who will tell, with a reasonable degree of graphic effect, what he has seen, will not fail to carry the reader with him; for the interest we all feel in personal adventure is, of itself, success.

James Fenimore Cooper

All sacrifices of common sense, and all recourse to plausible political combinations, whether of individuals or of men, are uniformly made at the expense of the majority.

James Fenimore Cooper

If newspapers are useful in overthrowing tyrants, it is only to establish a tyranny of their own.

James Fenimore Cooper

All that a good government aims at... is to add no unnecessary and artificial aid to the force of its own unavoidable consequences, and to abstain from fortifying and accumulating social inequality as a means of increasing political inequalities.

James Fenimore Cooper

No civilized society can long exist, with an active power in its bosom that is stronger than the law.

James Fenimore Cooper

It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.

James Fenimore Cooper

The common faults of American language are an ambition of effect, a want of simplicity, and a turgid abuse of terms.

James Fenimore Cooper

Slavery is no more sinful, by the Christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to eat a better meal than a neighbor, or otherwise to enjoy ease and plenty, while our fellow creatures are suffering and in want.

James Fenimore Cooper

Systems are to be appreciated by their general effects, and not by particular exceptions.

James Fenimore Cooper

Advice is not a gift, but a debt that the old owe to the young.

James Fenimore Cooper

The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity.

James Fenimore Cooper

Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order and the rights of others, the institutions render him truly a freeman. He is left to pursue his means of happiness in his own manner.

James Fenimore Cooper

Contact with the affairs of state is one of the most corrupting of the influences to which men are exposed.

James Fenimore Cooper

Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party.

James Fenimore Cooper

Every trail has its end, and every calamity brings its lesson!

James Fenimore Cooper

They who have reasoned ignorantly, or who have aimed at effecting their personal ends by flattering the popular feeling, have boldly affirmed that 'one man is as good as another'; a maxim that is true in neither nature, revealed morals, nor political theory.

James Fenimore Cooper

America owes most of its social prejudices to the exaggerated religious opinions of the different sects which were so instrumental in establishing the colonies.

James Fenimore Cooper

Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners, and that his skin is dark?

James Fenimore Cooper

There are evils worse than death.

James Fenimore Cooper