Sarah Josepha Hale Quotes

Seven Sarah Josepha Hale quotes from the 1800’s that are still relevant today.

Who is Sarah Josepha Hale and Why do we care about her quotes?

Sarah Josepha Hale was arguably one of America’s first ‘influencers’. She was the first female editor or Godey’s Lady’s Book and has a laundry list of accomplishments that would make a modern lady’s head spin. Put in context of being a single mother of five in the mid 1800’s and her victories are that much more impressive.

There are so many stories to tell about Sarah Josepha Hale… her patriotic service, her help in getting Thanksgiving to be a national holiday….but I digress…

A quick few words and then a whole bunch of quotes by Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale Historic Marker

The Historic Marker in the Guild section of Newport, New Hampshire reads:

Sarah Josepha Buell Hale 1788-1879

Prominent humanitarian, poet and author was born and taught school in Guild section of Newport. Widowed mother of five, she edited ‘Godey’s Lady’s Book’, 1837-1877; composed poem now called “Mary Had a Little Lamb”; advocated proclamation of Thanksgiving Day as national festival; and appealed constantly for higher education.

Sarah Josepha Hale is my Hero

Not only was Sarah a prolific and respected writer, she was a family first kinda girl and a true patriot. Through her writing, she managed to inspire a nation to fundraise and construct the Bunker Hill monument, save Mount Vernon from abandonment and destruction, helped found Vassar college, advocated for public playgrounds for kids, and wrote a cute little poem you have heard of…. Mary Had a Little Lamb… Kind of amazing right?

Pretty Sarah Josepha Hale Quotes

Sarah Josepha Hale inspires me as a mother, a writer, a woman, and an American. How will these Sarah Josepha Hale quotes inspire you?

(Print them out and put one up on your bathroom mirror each day for a week. Or… pin them for inspiration whenever you need it!)

The fearful are the failing. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

It requires but a few threads of hope, for the heart that is skilled in the secret to weave a web of happiness. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

What has made this nation great? Not its heroes but its households ~Sarah Josepha Hale

There is no influence so powerful as that of the mother ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Thanksgiving is a festive which will never become obsolete, for it cherishes the best affections of the heart-the social and domestic ties ~Sarah Josepha Hale

The temple of our purest thoughts is silence ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Nor need we power or splendor, wide hall or lordly dome: the good, the true, the tenderer-these form the wealth of home. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Quotes by Sarah Josepha Hale that showed what she stood for

Autumn is the time when the overflowing garners of America call for this expression of joyful gratitude. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

{Slavery} is a a stain on our national character. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

{The term female} is an animal term for gender.Females, indeed! They might have been sheep! ~Sarah Josepha Hale

I’ve learned to judge of men by their own deeds. I do not make the accident of birth the standard of their merit. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Rugged strength and radiant beauty-These were one in Nature’s plan. Humble toil and heavenward duty- These will form the perfect man ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale Quotes on Government

…rights are liable to be perverted to wrongs when we are incapable of rightly exercising them. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Democracies have been, and governments called, free…but the spirit of independence and the consciousness of unalienable rights, were never before transfused into the ends of a whole people…The feeling of equality which they proudly cherish does not proceed from an ignorance of their station, but from the knowledge of their rights; and it is this knowledge which will render it so exceedingly difficult for any tyrant to triumph over the liberties of our country. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale Quotes on Books and Education

A blessing on the printer’s art! Books are the mentors of the heart! ~Sarah Josepha Hale

The burning soul, the burden’d mind…in books alone companions find. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

In this age of innovation perhaps no experiment will have an influence more important on the character and happiness of our society than the granting to females the advantages of a systematic and thorough education. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

There is hardly a more heart thrilling pleasure enjoyed by mortals that that which parents feel when seeing their child first being able to ‘catch knowledge of objects’. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale Quotes on Money

This is a speculating and selfish age; and to think money will answer all things is too much the characteristic of Americans. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Riches are always overestimated. The enjoyment they give is more in the pursuit than the possession. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Happiness is in truth, a very cheap thing, when the heart will be contented to traffic with nature-art has quite a different price. ~Sarah Josepha Hale

Sarah Josepha Hale has a great great many quotes, some of which we might never know were hers as she sometimes penned articles for Godey’s under a different name. These are just a few and I hope they inspire you.

A note on Sarah Josepha Hale and Thanksgiving

Sarah Josepha Hale was passionate about Thanksgiving, (as am I). For her it was a time for families to attend church together and share a feast. The more the country fell into Civil War, the more she pushed for a national day of Thanksgiving as a means to bring our country together.

FIVE WAYS SARAH JOSEPHA HALE CHANGED THE WORLD

I love that she dedicated the bulk of her life to the notion of bringing people together…with food…and in thanks. For me, it’s the heart of everything and that fact that she stayed on this mission when our nation was in complete turmoil is awe inspiring.

ARE YOU DESCENDED FROM PILGRIMS?

Sarah Josepha Hale and Lincoln

It was President Lincoln who took her words and wishes seriously and 1863 issued the Proclamation for Thanksgiving to be a National Holiday. Yay team!

More About Sarah Joseph Hale

READ FIVE WAYS SARAH JOSEPHA HALE CHANGED THE WORLD

Order My Book (Coming soon)

In the Meantime, SHOP HERE FOR BOOKS BY SARAH JOSEPHA HALE

FREE Thanksgiving Download

Click this beautiful photo and receive a downloadable printable game for the Thanksgiving table! Includes all kinds of Thanksgiving fun. Sarah would approve!

Want to Learn More?

Want to hear more? I have a fascinating festive fall presentation on How Thanksgiving became a National Holiday and am on the California State Speakers Bureau for Daughters of the American Revolution. I’d be happy to bring my presentation to you in person or on Zoom! Contact me. Let’s talk!

Contact Jen