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About this quote

What does it mean?
Using rural dialect, Lowell cynically suggests that people are designed to ignore their own principles for comfort or convenience.
In plain terms
He jokes that people swallow their own beliefs to avoid discomfort.
What can you take from it?
People often ignore principles for comfort.

Where it applies

  • political satire
  • personal reflection
  • moral critique

Putting it to work

  • identify when you compromise
  • recognize hypocrisy

Questions to consider

  • When do you compromise values?
  • Why do people ignore principles?

Another view

The dialect makes the specific context hard to understand today.

More from James Russell Lowell

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  2. I du believe with all my soul In the gret Press's freedom, To pint the people to the goal An' in the traces lead 'em.

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  3. This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur.

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