Dorothea Dix Quotes

Dorothea Dix (American - Activist)

 

April 4, 1802 - July 17, 1887

 

ⓒ wikipedia

 

 

 

I have had so much at heart. Defeated, not conquered; disappointed, not discouraged. I have but to be more energetic and more faithful in the difficult and painful vocation to which my life is devoted.

 

 

 

Life is not to be expended in vain regrets. No day, no hour, comes but brings in its train work to be performed for some useful end - the suffering to be comforted, the wandering led home, the sinner reclaimed. Oh! How can any fold the hands to rest and say to the spirit, 'Take thine ease, for all is well!'

 

 

 

In order to do good, a man must be good; and he will not be good except he have instruction by counsel and by example.

 

 

 

Your minds may now be likened to a garden, which will, if neglected, yield only weeds and thistles; but, if cultivated, will produce the most beautiful flowers, and the most delicious fruits.

 

 

 

They say, 'Nothing can be done here!' I reply, 'I know no such word in the vocabulary I adopt!'

 

 

 

The duties of a teacher are neither few nor small, but they elevate the mind and give energy to the character.

 

 

 

Man is not made better by being degraded; he is seldom restrained from crime by harsh measures, except the principle of fear predominates in his character, and then he is never made radically better for its influence.

 

 

 

What greater bliss than to look back on days spent in usefulness, in doing good to those around us.

 

 

 

The rose is the flower and handmaiden of love - the lily, her fair associate, is the emblem of beauty and purity.

 

 

 

Society during the last hundred years has been alternately perplexed and encouraged respecting the two great questions: how shall the criminal and pauper be disposed of in order to reduce crime and reform the criminal on the one hand and, on the other, to diminish pauperism and restore the pauper to useful citizenship?