22 Quotes & Sayings By Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612, the eldest daughter of William Brad-street, an English settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her father's family had been prominent in England, her mother's family would soon be influential in Boston. Anne Bradstreet was christened on February 3, 1613 at St. Botolph's church in Boston Read more

She was educated in the common schools of Boston and later attended the famed Feet's School in Andover, where she learned Latin and Greek. While in Andover she met John Harvard, who would become her future husband. At the age of 17 she married John Harvard, at 23 she gave birth to their first child. At 24 Anne published "A Prose Poem for Mr.

Harvard." The poem was written after Harvard's death and dedicated to his memory. It is considered one of the earliest examples of American poetry, and it proves that Anne Bradstreet could write as well as read and write poetry. At 30 Anne published "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America," which listed her works to date and described her literary reputation. Anne had four children with John Harvard, all of whom died before age three. Anne had hoped to have another child but died of complications during childbirth at age 52 on July 6, 1672 at Boston Harbor.

If we had no winter, the spring would not be...
1
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."] Anne Bradstreet
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an...
2
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish. Anne Bradstreet
Wisdom with an inheritance is good, but wisdom without an...
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Wisdom with an inheritance is good, but wisdom without an inheritance is better than an inheritance without wisdom. Anne Bradstreet
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I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits./ A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong/ For such despite they cast on female wits;/ If what I do prove well, it won't advance, / They'll say it's stolen, or else, it was by chance. Anne Bradstreet
5
The Author To Her BookThou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth did'st by my side remain, Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true, Who thee abroad exposed to public view, Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge, Where errors were not lessened (all may judge). At thy return my blushing was not small, My rambling brat (in print) should mother call. I cast thee by as one unfit for light, The visage was so irksome in my sight, Yet being mine own, at length affection would Thy blemishes amend, if so I could. I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet, Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet. In better dress to trim thee was my mind, But nought save home-spun cloth, i' th' house I find. In this array, 'mongst vulgars may'st thou roam. In critic's hands, beware thou dost not come, And take thy way where yet thou art not known. If for thy father askt, say, thou hadst none; And for thy mother, she alas is poor, Which caused her thus to send thee out of door. Anne Bradstreet
6
Now say, have women worth, or have they none? Or had they some, but with our Queen is’t gone? Nay Masculines, you have thus tax’d us long, But she, though dead, will vindicate our wrong. Let such as say our sex is void of reason Know ‘tis a slander now, but once was tre Anne Bradstreet
7
Sweet words are like honey, a little may refresh, but too much gluts the stomach. Anne Bradstreet
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...And although thus short, we shorten many ways, Living so little while we are alive; In eating, drinking, sleeping, vain delight So unawares comes on perpetual night, And puts all pleasures vain unto eternal flight. Anne Bradstreet
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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so wel Anne Bradstreet
10
That when we live no more, We may live ever Anne Bradstreet
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If we had no winter the spring would not be so pleasant. Anne Bradstreet
12
O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things, That draws oblivion's curtains over kings; Their sumptuous monuments, men know them not, Their names without a record are forgot, Their parts, their ports, their pomps all laid in th' dust Nor wit nor gold, nor buildings scape time's rust; But he whose name is graved in the white stone Shall last and shine when all of these are gone. Anne Bradstreet
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If we had no winter the spring would not be so pleasant if we did not sometimes taste of adversity prosperity would not be so welcome. Anne Bradstreet
14
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge fitter to bruise than to polish. Anne Bradstreet
15
There is no object that we see no action that we do no good that we enjoy no evil that we feel or fear but we may make some spiritual advantage of all: and he that makes such improvement is wise as well as pious. Anne Bradstreet
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If ever two were one then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife then thee. Anne Bradstreet
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Sweet words are like honey a little may refresh but too much gluts the stomach. Anne Bradstreet
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Youth is the time of getting middle age of improving and old age of spending. Anne Bradstreet
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Youth is the time of getting, middle age of improving, and old age of spending. Anne Bradstreet
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If what I do prove well, it won't advance. They'll say it's stolen, or else it was by chance. Anne Bradstreet
21
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish. Anne Bradstreet