"Adversity does not build character,it reveals it"
About James Lane Allen
James Lane Allen — Life and Legacy
James Lane Allen, an influential American author of the late 19th century, is best known for his profound exploration of truth and human nature. His work, particularly 'The Choir Invisible,' delves into the complexities of existence, emphasizing the emotional and psychological dimensions of human life. Allen's key ideas often revolve around the notion that truth is not merely a reflection of majority opinion but a deeply personal journey. He famously stated, 'The truth is not always the same as the majority opinion,' which challenges readers to seek their own understanding of reality rather than conforming to societal norms. In his writings, Allen skillfully navigates the intricacies of identity, love, and belonging. His quote, 'A man is not where he lives, but where he loves,' encapsulates his belief that true identity is rooted in emotional connections rather than physical circumstances. This perspective invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the relationships that define them. Allen's insights remain relevant today, as they encourage introspection and a deeper understanding of the human experience. By emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and the quest for personal truth, his quotes resonate with those seeking to navigate the complexities of life and relationships.
Quote collection
James Lane Allen quotes
15 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil."
"You cannot escape the results of your thoughts. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."
"Circumstances do not determine a man, they reveal him."
"Man's rise or fall, success or failure, happiness or unhappiness depends on his attitude ... a man's attitude will create the situation he imagines."
"Good thoughts bear good fruit."
"You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place."
"As you think, you travel, and as you love, you attract. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."
"The longer I live here, the better satisfied I am in having pitched my earthly camp-fire, gypsylike, on the edge of a town, keeping it on one side, and the green fields, lanes, and woods on the other. Each, in turn, is to me as a magnet to the needle. At times the needle of my nature points towards the country. On that side everything is poetry. I wander over field and forest, and through me runs a glad current of feeling that is like a clear brook across the meadows of May. At others the needle veers round, and I go to town--to the massed haunts of the highest animal and cannibal."
"The truth in you remains as radiant as a star, as pure as light, as innocent as love itself."
"You cannot travel within and stand still without."
"But the finest music in the room is that which streams out to the ear of the spirit in many an exquisite strain from the hanging shelf of books on the opposite wall. Every volume there is an instrument which some melodist of the mind created and set vibrating with music, as a flower shakes out its perfume or a star shakes out its light. Only listen, and they soothe all care, as though the silken-soft leaves of poppies had been made vocal and poured into the ear."
"We do not attract what we want, But what we are."
"The Anglo-Saxon farmers had scarce conquered foothold, stronghold, freehold in the Western wilderness before they became sowers of hemp--with remembrance of Virginia, with remembrance of dear ancestral Britain."
"I have yet to encounter that common myth of weak men, an insurmountable barrier."