William Cullen Bryant (November 3, 1794-June 12, 1878) was an American poet and editor. He known as the "Father of American Poets," and wrote such titles as: Thanatopsis; To a Waterfowl; The Death of the Flowers; and To the Fringed Gentian. He was the editor in chief of the New York Evening Post for 50 years, lending its support in the formation of the Republican Party and the fight against slavery. William Cullen Bryant wrote:
<The sacredness of the Bible awes me, and I approach it with the same sort of reverential feeling that an ancient Hebrew might be supposed to feel who was about to touch the ark of God with unhallowed hands.> 1794WB001
<The very men who, in the pride of their investigations into the secrets of the internal world, turn a look of scorn upon the Christian system of belief, are not aware how much of the peace and order of society, how much the happiness of households, and the purest of those who are the dearest to them, are owing to the influence of that religion extending beyond their sphere....
In my view, the life, the teachings, the labors, and the sufferings of the blessed Jesus, there can be no admiration too profound, no love of which the human heart is capable too warm, no gratitude too earnest and deep of which He is justly the object.> 1794WB002
--
American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1794WB001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Cullen Bryant. Park Goodwin, Life of William Cullen Bryant. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 57.
1794WB002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). William Cullen Bryant. John Bigelow, Life of William Cullen Bryant, p. 275. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), pp. 57- 58.