Carl Clinton Van Doren Quotes

Powerful Carl Clinton Van Doren for Daily Growth

About Carl Clinton Van Doren

Carl Clinton Van Doren (1885-1950) was an American historian, literary critic, and editor who made significant contributions to the field of American literature. Born on February 4, 1885, in Brooklyn, New York, he was the younger brother of the renowned writer and educator, Charles W. Van Doren. Van Doren attended Columbia University, where he studied under the influential literary critic, Paul Elmer More. After graduating in 1906, he returned to Columbia as an instructor in English literature. In 1924, he succeeded his brother as the editor of The American Mercury, a position he held until 1938. Van Doren's career reached new heights in 1931 when he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History for "The Great Rehearsal: The Life of Thoreau." This biography, which remains a classic work on the life and thought of Henry David Thoreau, showcased Van Doren's deep understanding of his subject and his ability to bring historical figures to vibrant life. In 1938, Van Doren became the editor of The Century Magazine, where he served until 1946. During this period, he published "Benjamin Franklin: A Study in American Self-Made-ness," a landmark work on one of America's founding fathers. Throughout his career, Van Doren was influenced by the works of philosophers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, whose ideas about self-reliance and individualism resonated with him. He was also deeply moved by the social and political changes taking place in America during his lifetime, particularly the rise of the Progressive Movement. Van Doren passed away on October 17, 1950. His work continues to be appreciated for its insightful analysis of American literature and history, as well as for its engaging writing style that brings historical figures to life. Notable quotes from Carl Clinton Van Doren include, "Literature is the art of reading and writing," and "History is a vast early warning system."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There is no education but self-education."

This quote emphasizes that true learning and growth come from within, through personal effort and self-discovery. It suggests that formal education alone is insufficient; one must actively seek out knowledge and experiences beyond the classroom to truly educate themselves. In essence, it's a call for individuals to take control of their own learning journey and embrace a lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

"History will be what survives of present endeavor."

This quote by Carl Clinton Van Doren suggests that the events, actions, and achievements of the current era will shape the understanding of history in the future. Essentially, he is pointing out that the efforts being made today are what will endure and be remembered as history, shaping our collective narrative for generations to come. This perspective underscores the importance of our present-day decisions, actions, and accomplishments as they will influence how we are perceived by those who follow in our footsteps.

"A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men."

This quote by Carl Clinton Van Doren emphasizes the importance of respect, kindness, and empathy towards others, regardless of their status or position in life. It suggests that true greatness is demonstrated not through power, wealth, or fame, but rather through one's ability to treat everyone, including those perceived as less powerful, with dignity and compassion. In essence, it underscores the idea that being a 'great man' is about fostering an inclusive, respectful, and humane society.

"The historian's purpose is to make the dead live and speak."

This quote by Carl Clinton Van Doren signifies that a historian's role extends beyond recounting past events; it is about imbuing historical figures with life, making them relevant and relatable to present-day readers. In essence, historians seek to communicate the thoughts, emotions, and actions of those who have passed, enabling us to understand our shared past and learn from it as we navigate the future.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (Although this quote is more commonly attributed to George Santayana, Van Doren did write a book titled "What Thomas Paine Really Said" in which he expanded upon this idea.)

This quote suggests that individuals who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes or errors. It underscores the importance of understanding historical events, lessons, and patterns in order to avoid repeating past failures, conflicts, or injustices. By learning from history, we can better navigate the present and future, making more informed decisions and promoting progress.

The region west of the Mississippi continued in the popular mind to be a strange land for which the reports of explorers and travellers did the work of fiction, and Cooper's Prairie had few followers.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Mind, Which, Reports, Explorers

IT is mere coincidence that Cooper was born in the year which produced The Power of Sympathy and that when he died Uncle Tom's Cabin was passing through its serial stage, and yet the limits of his life mark almost exactly the first great period of American fiction.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Year, Through, Almost, Coincidence

Familiar life, tending to sordidness, had been succeeded by remote life, generally idealized; historical detail had been brought in to teach readers who were being entertained.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Been, Idealized, Brought, Entertained

Guy Rivers, a conventional piece as regards the love affair which makes a part of the plot, is a tale of deadly strife between the laws of Georgia and a fiendish bandit.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Love, Rivers, Which, Affair

The race of man, while sheep in credulity, are wolves for conformity.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Man, Race, Credulity, Conformity

In fiction, too, after the death of Cooper the main tendency for nearly a generation was away from the conquest of new borders to the closer cultivation, east of the Mississippi, of ground already marked.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Generation, New, Marked, Cooper

Although by 1851 tales of adventure had begun to seem antiquated, they had rendered a large service to the course of literature: they had removed the stigma, for the most part, from the word novel.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Part, Stigma, Large, Tales

The two most common charges against the older fiction, that it pleased wickedly and that it taught nothing, had broken down before the discovery, except in illiberal sects, that the novel is fitted both for honest use and for pleasure.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Fiction, Against, Before, Fitted

Melville brought to the task a sound knowledge of actual whaling, much curious learning in the literature of the subject, and, above all, an imagination which worked with great power upon the facts of his own experience.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Sound, Brought, Great Power, Facts

The first writers are first and the rest, in the long run, nowhere but in anthologies.

- Carl Clinton Van Doren

Rest, Run, Long Run, Nowhere

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