Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay (October 25, 1800-December 28, 1859) was an English statesman, essayist, historian and poet. He was a member of Parliament, 1830-56, an eloquent debater, and he served on the Supreme Council in India.
His writings were highly popular, as he made historical figures come alive with a vivid style.
His works include the Lays of Ancient Rome and The History of England from the Accession of James II, 5 vols., 1849-61.
In his piece titled, On John Dryden, 1828, Lord Macaulay stated:
<The English Bible-a book which if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power.> 1800LM001
In 1830, while commenting on Southey's edition of John Bunyan's classic book, Pilgrim's Progress, Lord Macaulay said:
<That wonderful book, while it obtains admiration from the most fastidious critics, is loved by those who are too simple to admire it.> 1800LM002
In On Lord Bacon, 1837, Lord Macaulay concluded:
<To sum up the whole, we should say that the aim of the Platonic philosophy was to exalt man into a god.> 1800LM003
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1800LM001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1828, in his work On John Dryden. John Bartlett, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 487.
1800LM002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1830, in commenting on Southey's edition of John Bunyan's classic book, Pilgrim's Progress. John Bartlett, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 487.
1800LM003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1837, in writing On Lord Bacon. John Bartlett, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 488. 1801WS001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Henry Seward. Tryon Edwards, D.D., The New Dictionary of Thoughts-A Cyclopedia of Quotations (Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1852; revised and enlarged by C.H. Catrevas, Ralph Emerson Browns and Jonathan Edwards [descendent, along with Tryon, of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), president of Princeton], 1891; The Standard Book Company, 1955, 1963), p. 49. Henry H. Halley, Halley's Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House 1927, 1965), p. 18. George E. Baker. Life of William Henry Seward. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 404.