40 Margaret Fuller Quotes From The American Author, Journalist, And Women's Rights Activist

Anusuya Mukherjee
Dec 12, 2023 By Anusuya Mukherjee
Originally Published on Feb 18, 2021
Edited by Monisha Kochhar
Literature author in glasses typing on typewriter
Age: 0-99
Read time: 6.3 Min

Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli was an American journalist, author, and one of the famous transcendentalists.

She heavily advocated women's rights and her book, 'Woman In The Nineteenth Century' is considered to be one of the first feminist works in the United States. She was also the first female correspondent in the United States.

Here we bring to you the best of Margaret Fuller transcendentalism quotes and the Margaret Fuller quotes that changed the course of patriarchy in the United States and far.

For similar quotes, check out Women's Rights quotes and Alice Paul quotes.

Margaret Fuller 'Woman In The Nineteenth Century' Quotes

woman writing in notebook

Margaret Fuller's book, 'Woman In The Nineteenth Century' has some strong and powerful quotes.

1.“We have waited here long in the dust; we are tired and hungry; but the triumphal procession must appear at last.”

― Margaret Fuller.

2.“...above all things; to remember that hypocrisy is the most hopeless as well as the meanest of crimes...”

― Margaret Fuller.

3.“Yet, by men in this country, as by the Jews, when Moses was leading them to the promised land, everything has been done that inherited depravity could do, to hinder the promise of Heaven from its fulfilment.”

― Margaret Fuller.

4."Woman is born for love, and it is impossible to turn her from seeking it."

― Margaret Fuller.

5.“... beings, likely to be left alone, need to be fortified and furnished within themselves, and education and thought have tended more and more to regard these beings as related to absolute being ...”

― Margaret Fuller.

6.“Beware of over-great pleasure in being popular or even beloved. As far as an amiable disposition and powers of entertainment make you so, it is a happiness; but if there is one grain of plausibility, it is poison.”

― Margaret Fuller Ossoli.

Margaret Fuller Nature Quotes

These are Margaret Fuller quotes that explain and admire the ways of nature.

7."Nature provides exceptions to every rule."

-Margaret Fuller, 'Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

8.“Marriage is the natural means of forming a sphere, of taking root on the earth”

― Margaret Fuller, 'The Great Lawsuit: Man versus Men. Woman Versus Woman'.

9."Wine is earth's answer to the sun."

-Margaret Fuller, ‘Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

10."Nature seems to have poured forth her riches so without calculation, merely to mark the fullness of her joy."

-Margaret Fuller.

11."Drudgery is as necessary to call out the treasures of the mind, as harrowing and planting those of the earth."

-Margaret Fuller.

Margaret Fuller Confidence Quotes

These are some Margaret Fuller quotes to make you realize the importance of confidence in life.

12."Tremble not before the free man, but before the slave who has chains to break."

-Margaret Fuller, 'Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

13."Very early, I knew that the only object in life was to grow."

-Margaret Fuller.

14."I now know all the people worth knowing in America, and I find no intellect comparable to my own."

-Margaret Fuller.

15."When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it."

-Margaret Fuller.

16.“Whatever the soul knows how to seek, it cannot fail to obtain.”

Margaret Fuller.

17."I wish woman to live, first for God's sake. Then she will not take what is not fit for her from a sense of weakness and poverty. Then if she finds what she needs in man embodied, she will know how to love and be worthy of being loved."

-Margaret Fuller.

Quotes About Intellect And Education

Here are some Margaret Fuller quotes on intellect and education that showcase that they are the basic needs of survival.

18.“But the intellect, cold, is ever more masculine than feminine; warmed by emotion, it rushes towards mother earth, and puts on the forms of beauty.”

― Margaret Fuller, 'Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

19.“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."

― Margaret Fuller.

20.“Here, as elsewhere, the gain of creation consists always in the growth of individual minds, which live and aspire”

― Margaret Fuller, 'Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

21."...the thought of human destiny, which is given to eternity adequately to express, and which ages of failure only seemingly impede."

― Margaret Fuller.

22."If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it."

― Margaret Fuller.

23. "It does not follow because many books are written by persons born in America that there exists an American literature.

Books which imitate or represent the thoughts and life of Europe do not constitute an American literature. Before such can exist, an original idea must animate this nation and fresh currents of life must call into life fresh thoughts along the shore."

― Margaret Fuller.

24.“There are noble books but one wants the breath of life sometimes.”

― Margaret Fuller.

25."The especial genius of women I believe to be electrical in movement, intuitive in function, spiritual in tendency."

-Margaret Fuller.

Margaret Fuller Famous Quotes

Margaret Fuller quotes were always relished and regarded with high respect. These are some famous Margaret Fuller quotes.

26."Two persons love in one another the future good which they aid one another to unfold."

― Margaret Fuller.

27."There exists in the minds of men a tone of feeling toward women as toward slaves."

-Margaret Fuller.

28.“All around us lies what we neither understand nor use.”

― Margaret Fuller.

29.“But her eye, that torch or the soul, is untamed, and in the intensity of her reading, we see a soul invincibly young in faith and hope.”

― Margaret Fuller.

30."It is so true that a woman may be in love with a woman, and a man with a man. It is pleasant to be sure of it, because it is undoubtedly the same love that we shall feel when we are angels."

-Margaret Fuller, ‘Woman in the Nineteenth Century'.

31.“There is no wholly masculine man, no purely feminine woman.”

― Margaret Fuller.

32."Art can only be truly art by presenting an adequate outward symbol of some fact in the interior life."

― Margaret Fuller.      

33."The critic is the historian who records the order of creation. In vain for the maker, who knows without learning it, but not in vain for the mind of his race."

-Margaret Fuller.

34."It should be remarked that, as the principle of liberty is better understood, and more nobly interpreted, a broader protest is made on behalf of women. As men become aware that few have had a fair chance, they are inclined to say that no women have had a fair chance."

-Margaret Fuller.

35."Be what you would seem to be - or, if you'd like it put more simply - a house is no home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body."

-Margaret Fuller.

36."We need to hear the excuses men make to themselves for their worthlessness."

-Margaret Fuller.

37."Amid all your duties, keep some hours to yourself."

-Margaret Fuller Ossoli.

38."... can we feel that Man will always do justice to the interests of Woman? Can we think that he takes a sufficiently discerning and religious view of her office and destiny ever to do her justice, except when prompted by sentiment—accidentally or transiently?"

-Margaret Fuller Ossoli.

39."We would have every arbitrary barrier thrown down. We would have every path laid open to women as freely as to men."

-Margaret Fuller Ossoli.

40."Man tells his aspiration in his God; but in his demon he shows his depth of experience; and casts light into the cavern through which he worked his cause up to the cheerful day."

-Margaret Fuller Ossoli.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Margaret Fuller quotes then why not take a look at Emmeline Pankhurst quotes, or Happy Women's Day quotes.

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Written by Anusuya Mukherjee

Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

Anusuya Mukherjee picture

Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".

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