Gilbert Parker Quotes

Powerful Gilbert Parker for Daily Growth

About Gilbert Parker

Gilbert Parkerson (June 9, 1862 – December 31, 1939), a prolific Canadian novelist and short-story writer, was born in Dunham, Quebec. He is best known for his powerful and evocative portrayals of the Canadian wilderness, indigenous peoples, and early settlers. Born into a family with connections to the United Empire Loyalists, Parker's early years were marked by frequent moves due to his father's career as an Anglican minister. This nomadic childhood instilled in him a deep appreciation for diverse landscapes and cultures, themes that would later resonate in his works. Parker began his writing career in 1890 with the publication of a poem titled "The Bells of Dunham" in the Boston Herald. His first significant work, "The Story of a Slave," was published in 1894, followed by "The Amber Witch" in 1897. However, it was his novel "The Spoilers" (1901) that brought him international acclaim. Set in the Canadian Northwest Territories, this adventure story was adapted into a successful play and film. In 1903, Parker published "The Backwoodsman," which further cemented his reputation as a master of frontier fiction. His works often depicted the harsh realities of life in the wilderness, but also celebrated the spirit of survival and resilience of its inhabitants. Parker's most influential work is arguably "The Seats of the Mighty" (1913), a trilogy that explores the impact of European colonization on the indigenous peoples of North America. The series is considered a seminal work in Canadian literature and is renowned for its nuanced portrayal of Native American cultures. Parker's life and works were deeply influenced by his experiences, particularly his travels in Canada, the United States, England, and Europe. He passed away on December 31, 1939, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to captivate readers today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the resoluteness which determines that a danger once faced will not be feared."

This quote highlights that courage isn't about being free from fear, but rather it's about confronting fear head-on despite its presence. It suggests that people who exhibit courage are those who face challenges or dangers, acknowledging the fear they feel, but choosing to act anyway because they believe in resilience and determination. Essentially, the quote conveys that courage is a choice, not an absence of fear.

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting qualities which, in prosperous times, would have lain dormant."

This quote suggests that hardships or adversities bring out hidden strengths within us that might not be apparent during easier or more prosperous periods in our lives. In other words, the challenges we face help us discover and develop qualities like resilience, courage, patience, and perseverance, which contribute to personal growth and character development.

"Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor."

This quote underscores that patience and persistence are essential traits for anyone pursuing significant, valuable goals. The phrase "patience" implies a willingness to wait for results or progress without becoming impatient or frustrated. "Persistence," meanwhile, suggests a steadfast determination to continue working towards an objective despite challenges or setbacks along the way. In other words, when we have patience and persist in our endeavors, we are more likely to achieve success in the long run with worthwhile projects that matter to us.

"The great majority of people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

This quote by Gilbert Parker suggests that a person's level of happiness is largely self-determined. It implies that while circumstances play a role, our overall contentment in life primarily depends on our own mindset and perception. In other words, if we decide to be happy, we can find reasons to be so, regardless of the external factors at play.

"The world is full of nearlys, but a nearly-man is a failure."

This quote suggests that merely coming close to achieving something doesn't equate to success. A "nearly-man" or "nearly-person" refers to someone who consistently falls short or comes close, but never quite achieves their goals or full potential. The message is that settling for near accomplishments is a form of failure because true success requires pushing beyond the threshold of mere proximity and fully realizing one's aspirations.

Nothing is so unproductive as the law. It is expensive whether you win or lose.

- Gilbert Parker

Law, Legal, Unproductive, Win Or Lose

There's no credit in not doing what you don't want to do. There's no virtue in not falling, when you're not tempted.

- Gilbert Parker

Doing, Want, Falling, Tempted

It must be remembered that the sea is a great breeder of friendship. Two men who have known each other for twenty years find that twenty days at sea bring them nearer than ever they were before, or else estrange them.

- Gilbert Parker

Friendship, Other, Before, Twenty

She belongs to a race of delightful women, who never do any harm, whom everybody calls good, and who are very severe on those who do not pretend to be good.

- Gilbert Parker

Race, Everybody, Very, Severe

It is not the broken heart that kills, but broken pride, monseigneur.

- Gilbert Parker

Heart, Broken, Pride, Broken Heart

Man is born in a day, and he dies in a day, and the thing is easily over; but to have a sick heart for three-fourths of one's lifetime is simply to have death renewed every morning; and life at that price is not worth living.

- Gilbert Parker

Death, Living, Over, Dies

There is no refuge from memory and remorse in this world. The spirits of our foolish deeds haunt us, with or without repentance.

- Gilbert Parker

Memory, Deeds, Haunt, Foolish

In all secrets there is a kind of guilt, however beautiful or joyful they may be, or for what good end they may be set to serve. Secrecy means evasion, and evasion means a problem to the moral mind.

- Gilbert Parker

Guilt, However, Means, Secrets

He came by a leap to the goal of purpose, not by the toilsome steps of reason. On the instant his headlong spirit declared his purpose: this was the one being for him in all the world: at this altar he would light a lamp of devotion, and keep it burning forever.

- Gilbert Parker

Purpose, Reason, Him, Leap

Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.

- Gilbert Parker

Love, Distance, Continent, Hath

He knew the lie of silence to be as evil as the lie of speech.

- Gilbert Parker

Lie, Speech, Knew, Evil

But paying is part of the game of life: it is the joy of buying that we crave.

- Gilbert Parker

Joy, Game, Paying, Crave

Imagination is at the root of much that passes for love.

- Gilbert Parker

Love, Imagination, Passes, Root

Every man should have laws of his own, I should think; commandments of his own, for every man has a different set of circumstances wherein to work - or worry.

- Gilbert Parker

Worry, Think, Circumstances, Commandments

It's the people who try to be clever who never are; the people who are clever never think of trying to be.

- Gilbert Parker

Brainy, Think, Never, Clever

There is no influence like the influence of habit.

- Gilbert Parker

Influence, Like, Habit

For when a child is born the mother also is born again.

- Gilbert Parker

Mother, Mother's Day, Born, Child

Memory is man's greatest friend and worst enemy.

- Gilbert Parker

Memory, Friend, Worst, Greatest

War is cruelty, and none can make it gentle.

- Gilbert Parker

War, Gentle, None, Cruelty

Every shot that kills ricochets.

- Gilbert Parker

Every, Shot

Tomorrow is no man's gift.

- Gilbert Parker

Future, Man, Gift, Tomorrow

The real business of life is trying to understand each other.

- Gilbert Parker

Business, Trying, Other, Life

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