“Duties of American Citizenship”by Theodore Roosevelt, on January 26, 1883Of course, in one sense, the first essential for a man’s being a good citizen is his possession of the home virtues of which we think when we call a man by the emphatic adjective of manly. No man can be a good citizen who is […]
Duties of American Citizenship by Theodore Roosevelt Read More »
“Surrender Speech”by Chief Joseph, on October 5, 1877, as he surrendered to General Howard, in The Montana Territory:“I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ He who led the young men
Surrender Speech by Chief Joseph Read More »
Bram Stoker’s Letter to Walt WhitmanFebruary 14, 1876My dear Mr. Whitman.I hope you will not consider this letter from an utter stranger a liberty. Indeed, I hardly feel a stranger to you, nor is this the first letter that I have written to you. My friend Edward Dowden has told me often that you like
Bram Stoker’s Letter to Walt Whitman Read More »
Love Letter from Samuel L. Clemens to Olivia ClemensNovember 27, 1875Livy darling,Six years have gone by since I made my first great success in life and won you, and thirty years have passed since Providence made preparation for that happy success by sending you into the world.Every day we live together adds to the security
Love Letter from Samuel Clemens to Olivia Clemens Read More »
2nd Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln, on March 4, 1865 “Fellow-Countrymen, at this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at
2nd Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln Read More »
Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Lydia Bixby, who lost 5 sons in the Civil WarNovember 21, 1864Dear Madam,—I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.I feel how weak
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to Lydia Bixby Read More »
“The Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln, on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln Read More »
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to the King of Siam, declining the offer of Elephants to help with the civil war.February 3, 1862Abraham Lincoln,President of the United States of America.To His Majesty Somdetch Phra Paramendr Maha Mongut,King of Siam,Great and Good Friend:I have received Your Majesty’s two letters of the date of February 14th., 1861.I have also
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to the King of Siam RE: Elephants Read More »
11 year-old Grace Bedell’s letter to Abraham Lincoln, advising him to grow a beardOctober 18, 1860Dear SirMy father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin’s. I am a little girl only eleven years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I
Grace Bedell’s letter to Abraham Lincoln Read More »
Sarah Lougue’s letter to her runaway slave Jermain Wesley Logan (Jarm Logue) His response is included below. February 20th, 1860. To JARM:- I now take my pen to write you a few lines, to let you know how well we all are. I am a cripple, but I am still able to get about. The
Sarah Logue’s letter to her runaway slave Jermain Wesley Logan Read More »
Matrimonial Causes ActThe Matrimonial Causes Act, enacted in the United Kingdom in 1857, significantly reformed the country’s divorce and marriage dissolution laws. Prior to this act, divorce was a complicated and costly process, only accessible to the wealthy. The legislation marked a turning point in British society by making divorce more accessible, with lasting effects
The Matrimonial Causes Act in the United Kingdom Read More »
“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852Mr. President, Friends and Fellow Citizens:He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has stronger nerves than I have. I do not remember ever to have appeared as a speaker before any assembly more shrinkingly, nor with greater
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? by Frederick Douglass Read More »
Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! Long has it waved on high, And many an eye has danced to see That banner in the sky; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon’s roar; The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more!
Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Read More »
Charles Lamb’s letter to Bernard Barton, regarding his cold January 9th, 1824 Dear B.B.- Do you know what it is to succumb under an insurmountable day-mare,- “a whoreson lethargy,” Falstaff calls it, -an indisposition to do anything, or to be anything, -a total deadness and distaste,-a suspension of vitality, -an indifference to locality,- a numb,
Charles Lamb’s Letter to Bernard Barton, Regarding his (common) Cold Read More »
Sydney Smith’s Letter to Lady Georgiana MorpethFebruary 16, 1820Dear Lady Georgiana,Nobody has suffered more from low spirits than I have done- so I feel for you.1st. Live as well as you dare.2nd. Go into the shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a temperature low enough to give you a slight sensation of cold,
Sydney Smith’s Letter to Lady Georgiana Morpeth Read More »
George Washington’s Farewell AddressSeptember 17, 1796, To the People of the United StatesFriends and Fellow Citizens:The period for a new election of a citizen, to administer the executive government of the United States, being not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when your thoughts must be employed designating the person, who is to be
George Washington’s Farewell Address Read More »
“Abolition Speech”by William WilberforceMay 12, 1789, at The House of Commons, LondonWhen I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House, a subject in which the interests, not of this country nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world and of posterity are involved, and when I think
Abolition Speech by William Wilberforce Read More »
Benjamin Franklin’s Letter to William StrahanJuly 5, 1775Mr. StrahanYou are a Member of Parliament, and one of that Majority which has doomed my Country to Destruction. You have begun to burn our Towns and murder our People. — Look upon your hands! They are stained with the Blood of your Relations! — You and I
Benjamin Franklin’s Letter to William Strahan Read More »
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Deathby Patrick Henry, on March 23, 1775, in Richmond, VANo man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry Read More »
An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries by Jupiter Hammon (October 17, 1711(?) – 1806) Salvation comes by Christ alone, The only Son of God; Redemption now to every one, That love his holy Word. Dear Jesus, we would fly to Thee, And leave off every Sin, Thy tender Mercy well agree; Salvation
An Evening Thought by Jupiter Hammon Read More »
Canasatego and the CollegeAnother passage from the letter I wrote Peter Collinson on May 9, 1753. This contains a story I told more than once. I have added to it the official minutes of the same transaction, which I printed, which are rather different._____________________________The little value Indians set on what we prize so highly under
Canasatego and the College Read More »
The following is a little piece I put together for my 1739 almanac. I took some passages from Francois Rabelais, added a good deal of my own observation or invention, and recalculated for America. I jested a bit here with the manner of speaking I heard in different places, and other things. I was not
A True Prognostication For 1739 Read More »
A letter to Lord Monteagle, regarding The GunPowder PlotOctober 26, 1605My lord, out of the love I beare to some of youere frends, I have a care of youre preservacion, therefore I would aduyse you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift youer attendance at this parliament, for God and man
A Letter to Lord Monteagle, Regarding The GunPowder Plot Read More »
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses: The Start of the Protestant ReformationMartin Luther’s 95 Theses didn’t just challenge a religious practice—they cracked the foundation of the Catholic Church’s authority and launched the Protestant Reformation. Nailed (or mailed) on October 31, 1517, the 95 Theses questioned the legitimacy of selling indulgences and ignited a global reform movement.What Were
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Read More »
King of France Philip IV’s letter to Pope Boniface VIII, regarding William WallaceNovember 7, 1300Philip by the grace of God King of the French to our loved and faithful our agents appointed to the Roman Court, greetings and love. We command/ you to request the Supreme Pontiff to consider with favor our beloved William le
King of France Philip IV’s letter to Pope Boniface VIII Read More »
The Sermon on the Mount: Historical Context and Spiritual Meaning by Jesus Christ, circa 33 AD in Jerusalem, from the Gospel of Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most influential discourses in human history. Found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5-7), this powerful teaching is attributed to Jesus of Nazareth
The Beatitudes (The Sermon on the Mount) by Jesus circa 33 AD Read More »
{{ excerpt | truncatewords: 55 }}
{% endif %}