He was born in 1810, and died in 1884. His biography has been written by Octavius B. Frothingham.
Channing saw the world through generous, charitable eyes.
He was an ardent admirer of Charles Fourier, and appreciated the philosophy and social law-giving of that gigantic intellect.
The quotation we print above is an index to his whole character, just as one flower tells the story of the beautiful garden in which it grew.
Channing, unlike many sayers of fine things, was personally as fine as the things he said. He was worthy even of his own best thoughts, and that can be said for few fine thinkers.
Admire him. Read some of his sermons and other writings if you have the chance.
THE EXISTENCE OF GOD—PARABLE OF THE BLIND KITTENS
The notion that small things, the petty details of life, such as money getting, marriage questions, etc., are uppermost in the modern human brain is entirely false.
If an editor asks: "Is marriage a failure?" he receives just so many answers, and then the interest dies out.
If he asks: "Should a wife have pin money?" or "What is the easiest way for a woman to earn a living?" he ceases to receive answers after a short time.