to be human

Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli (1810-1850)
Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli (1810-1850)

Who can know these and, other myriad children of Chaos and old night, who can know the awe the horror and the majesty of earth, yet be content with the blue sky alone. Not I for one. I love the love lit dome above, I cannot live without mine own particular star; but my foot is on the earth and I wish to walk over it until my wings be grown. I will use my microscope as well as my telescope. And oh ye flowers, ye fruits, and, nearer kindred yet, stones with your veins so worn by fire and water, and here and there disclosing streaks of golden ore, let us know one another before we part. Tell me your secret, tell me mine. To be human is also something?
~ Margaret Fuller
(Meditations of Margaret Fuller: The Inner Stream)

12 thoughts on “to be human”

  1. These are excellent méditations… indeed. Thanks a lot for your nice choice… I wish you could give a brief account of Margaret Fuller’s life, and her work.
    so garteful ! Thank you again.

    1. A warm welcome to my blog! I’m pleased that you enjoyed this quote. If you are interested in Margaret Fuller’s life and her work, I can suggest a wonderful book, “Margaret Fuller: A New American Life” by Megan Marshall.

    1. Yes, so true. It IS awesome to be human and possess our physical senses, so we can enjoy our journey on earth to the fullest while we are here. *hugs*

    1. She was a genius and led an amazing life at a time when it was almost impossible for women to do so… Her last manuscript was lost along with her in that fateful shipwreck – so young, so much more to contribute, a terrible tragedy, a great loss…

    1. Thinking about the wonders of the universe revealed to through our microscopes and telescopes…

  2. A beautiful portrait – as serene as her meditations. It’s so marvelous, the desire to merge with all of nature’s gifts: those as distant as the sky, or as immediate as the earth. I can only hope that this ability to appreciate these things with a subtle and loving eye filled her short life with joy.

    1. It does seem that Margaret was not only keenly aware of nature’s gifts, but found joy in helping other women to think about deeper things and important issues for themselves. She led a a series of “Conversations” where women were free to gather, share their thoughts and encourage each other.

    1. You’re welcome, Diane. I do recommend “Margaret Fuller: A New American Life” by Megan Marshall. 🙂

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