Harriet Beecher Stowe was an influential American author and abolitionist best known for her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), which played a key role in the anti-slavery movement. Her writings and speeches were deeply impactful in shaping public opinion about slavery and human rights. Here are some of her most famous quotes:
- “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”
- This quote reflects Stowe’s belief in the importance of taking action and expressing one’s true feelings before it is too late. It captures her sense of urgency in addressing injustice and advocating for those who suffered under slavery.
- “When you get into the slave states, you are in the midst of a great and terrible war, a war of opinion, of action, a war of oppression on one side, of resistance on the other.”
- Stowe’s words here emphasize the intensity and divisiveness of the slavery issue in America. She saw the conflict over slavery as a battle of ideas and humanity that ultimately needed resolution.
- “All God’s creatures are His, and the very worst that can be done to a man is to be deprived of his soul and his will. They can take everything else from him, but they can’t take his soul away.”
- This quote reflects Stowe’s deep Christian faith and her belief in the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of the circumstances. She often framed the issue of slavery as a moral and spiritual crisis.
- “The longest way must have its close—the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.”
- This speaks to Stowe’s hopeful view of the future. Even in the face of adversity, she believed that struggles would eventually give way to a brighter future, as long as people continued to fight for justice.
- “I will not sell my soul for any man’s bread.”
- Stowe, deeply committed to the abolitionist cause, was unyielding in her moral convictions. This quote shows her unwillingness to compromise her principles for personal gain or comfort.
- “The world is still waiting for the ideal woman to come—one who can combine in herself the mother, the wife, the patriot, the philanthropist.”
- This quote reflects Stowe’s views on women’s roles, highlighting her belief in women’s potential to contribute to society in various, powerful ways. She was also a proponent of women’s rights alongside her abolitionist work.
- “It’s better to be a good woman than a great woman.”
- Stowe often emphasized personal integrity and moral goodness over fame or greatness. She believed that virtue and goodness were the qualities that made a true impact on the world.
- “In the morning, I walked about the house and looked at the furniture, and the pictures on the walls, and the little, trifling things that had seemed so important to me, and then I felt how little they were in comparison with what I had been used to seeing. I looked at them, and said, ‘It’s all very well for those who are in prosperity, but for me it’s not much.’”
- This quote reflects Stowe’s recognition of the emptiness of material wealth when compared to deeper, moral causes. She often questioned the role of materialism in a world full of injustice.
- “I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But by the grace of God I am not what I was.”
- This quote highlights Stowe’s humility and spiritual outlook, acknowledging personal imperfections while expressing gratitude for growth and improvement, even if the journey was not yet complete.
- “So long as I live, I will continue to speak of the great and essential truths that God has shown me; and I will not be silent, nor will I compromise, because I know that when I speak out, I do not speak for myself alone, but for the cause of God and the cause of the world’s oppressed.”
- This quote reflects Stowe’s unflinching dedication to the abolitionist cause. She saw her work as part of a divine mission and as a voice for the oppressed, driven by faith and moral conviction.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s work, especially Uncle Tom’s Cabin, had a profound impact on American society, particularly in shaping public opinion about slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. Her commitment to social justice, moral duty, and the fight for equality resonate strongly in her words.