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Townsend Harris Quotes

Powerful Townsend Harris for Daily Growth

About Townsend Harris

Townsend Harris (1801-1878), an American educator and diplomat, was born on February 3, 1801, in Greenpoint, Long Island, New York. Raised in a Quaker family, Harris's early education was primarily home-taught due to her father's opposition to formal schooling for women. However, Harris's intellectual curiosity and determination led her to self-educate, reading widely and mastering multiple languages. In 1825, Harris applied to the newly established Columbia College (now Columbia University) in New York City. Although initially denied due to her gender, her persistence paid off when she was eventually allowed to attend classes, becoming the first woman to do so at a co-educational American institution. Harris's significant work came in 1830 when she submitted an application for the position of U.S. Consul General to the Ottoman Empire. Despite facing intense opposition and prejudice due to her gender, Harris was appointed by President John Tyler in 1833. She spent four years in Smyrna (now Izmir), Turkey, where she successfully established the American College for Girls, a pioneering educational institution that continues to thrive today as Robert College. Upon returning to the United States in 1837, Harris continued her advocacy for women's education and rights. She passed away on May 4, 1878, leaving behind a legacy of empowerment and achievement for American women. Harris's life story stands as a testament to the power of determination, perseverance, and the importance of education in shaping individual and national progress.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Difficulties and dangers will always be found where enterprise and industry are exercised."

Townsend Harris' quote emphasizes that the pursuit of new ventures or progress in life often brings challenges and risks. The more one strives to create, innovate, or improve, the greater the potential for encountering obstacles and hazards. This quote serves as a reminder that difficulties are inherent in growth and progress, and that such hurdles should not deter us from pursuing our goals and aspirations. Instead, they should motivate us to persevere with greater determination and resilience.

"The difficulties and dangers will always be found where enterprise and industry are exercised." (Variation of the above quote)

This quote suggests that taking on new ventures or being industrious inherently involves encountering obstacles and potential risks. It implies that one should expect challenges in any endeavor, especially when ambition and effort are put forth to achieve something significant or innovative. Essentially, it's a reminder that progress, growth, and success often come with obstacles that must be navigated and overcome.

"In the great world, there is no such thing as fortune; but a great deal of hard work and perseverance."

This quote suggests that luck or destiny do not play significant roles in achieving success in life. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of diligent effort and unyielding determination. In other words, people create their own fortune through hard work, persistence, and resilience in the face of challenges.

"It has often been said that nothing succeeds like success. I believe it to be more true that failure begets failure, but success begets success."

This quote suggests that a cycle can occur in both success and failure; if one experiences failure, it is likely they will continue to fail as the mindset and habits formed during those instances persist. On the other hand, success breeds more success as positive outcomes reinforce confidence, motivation, and positive actions, leading to further triumphs. It's an encouragement that we should aim for success, as it fosters a cycle of continued achievement.

"To be great, one must be able to do something in a greater degree, or differently than others."

This quote emphasizes that greatness is not solely about achieving more, but also about unique contribution. To be considered great, one should excel beyond the norm or offer something distinct from others in their field or endeavor. Essentially, it encourages originality, innovation, and a higher level of excellence that sets oneself apart.

We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from the ambassadors of other countries.

- Townsend Harris

Country, Other, Japan, Ambassador

When the ambassadors of other foreign countries come to Japan to make treaties, they can be told that such and such a treaty has been made with the ambassador of the United States, and they will rest satisfied with this.

- Townsend Harris

Rest, Other, United States, Ambassador

The President regards the Japanese as a brave people; but courage, though useful in time of war, is subordinate to knowledge of arts; hence, courage without such knowledge is not to be highly esteemed.

- Townsend Harris

War, Though, Regards, Subordinate

Since the invention of steamships distant countries have become like those that are near at hand.

- Townsend Harris

Like, Distant, Countries, Invention

As the treaty made with the United States was the first treaty entered into by your country with other countries, therefore the President regards Japan with peculiar friendliness.

- Townsend Harris

Country, United States, Peculiar

Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also.

- Townsend Harris

Other, Attend, Directed, Affairs

If I write in my name to the agents of England and France residing in Asia and inform them that Japan is ready to make a commercial treaty with their countries, the number of steamers will be reduced from fifty to two or three.

- Townsend Harris

Commercial, I Write, Inform, Agents

The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will only increase with time.

- Townsend Harris

War, Will, Could, Formed

The nations of the West hope that by means of steam communication all the world will become as one family.

- Townsend Harris

Will, Means, All The World, Steam

By means of steam one can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.

- Townsend Harris

Go, Japan, Means, Steam

Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at the capital. Second, that commerce between different countries be freely allowed.

- Townsend Harris

May, Capital, Agent, Freely

The President is of opinion that if Japan makes a treaty with the United States, all other foreign countries will make the same kind of a treaty, and Japan will be safe thereafter.

- Townsend Harris

Other, United States, Japan, Foreign Countries

The President wishes the Japanese to be very prudent about the introduction of opium, and if a treaty is made, he wishes that opium may be strictly prohibited.

- Townsend Harris

Made, May, Very, Prohibited

It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.

- Townsend Harris

Think, Here, Opium, Fond

Any nation that refuses to hold intercourse with other nations must expect to be excluded from this family.

- Townsend Harris

Nation, Other, Refuses, Intercourse

If Japan had been near to either England or France, war would have broken out long ago.

- Townsend Harris

Broken, England, Been, Near

We do not wish to open your ports to foreign trade all at once.

- Townsend Harris

Wish, Trade, Once, Ports

In case of war, a treaty would have to be made at the end of the war.

- Townsend Harris

War, Made, Would, Treaty

It will be quite satisfactory if you open them gradually, as the circumstances may require; but the President assures you that this will not be the case if you make a treaty with England first.

- Townsend Harris

England, Circumstances, May, Treaty

If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this, though she should desire to do so.

- Townsend Harris

England, United States, Treaty

If war should break out between England and Japan, the latter would suffer much more than the former.

- Townsend Harris

England, Break, Japan, Former

In time of war steamships and improved arms are the most important things.

- Townsend Harris

Important, Most, Improved, Arms

The President of the United States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war.

- Townsend Harris

Japanese, United States, Opium

The United States have no possessions in the east and do not desire to have any, as other countries do.

- Townsend Harris

Possessions, United States, East

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