William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms
=========================
Full Name and Common Aliases
---------------------------------
Full Name: William Gilmore Simms
Common Alias(es): None notable
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Born on February 17, 1806
Died on November 25, 1870
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Historian, Critic
William Gilmore Simms was a multifaceted writer who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of his time. He is best known for his novels, poetry, and plays that reflect the culture and society of the antebellum South.
Early Life and Background
-----------------------------
Simms was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 17, 1806, to a prominent family. His father, Thomas Simms, was a merchant who had made his fortune in the cotton trade. William's early life was marked by privilege and exposure to literature, as his mother encouraged his love for reading from an early age.
Simms attended Charleston College (now The Citadel) but dropped out at the age of 16 to pursue a career in writing. He began working as a journalist and editor, eventually becoming the editor of the _Southern Patriot_ newspaper. During this period, he developed his skills as a writer and gained a reputation for his literary criticism.
Major Accomplishments
-------------------------
Simms's most notable accomplishments include:
Publishing numerous novels, poetry collections, and plays that explored the culture and society of the antebellum South.
Editing several prominent literary magazines, including _The Southern Patriot_ and _The Magnolia_.
Serving as a diplomat for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.Notable Works or Actions
---------------------------
Some of Simms's most notable works include:
Martin Faber; The Story of a Life (1833) - A novella that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption.
The Yemassee (1827) - A novel that tells the story of the Yamasee War in 18th-century South Carolina.
Woodcraft; Or, Hitting the Trail for the Wild South-West (1854) - A travelogue that chronicles Simms's experiences as a writer and diplomat.
Impact and Legacy
----------------------
Simms's impact on American literature is undeniable. He was one of the first writers to explore the complexities of Southern culture and society, paving the way for future generations of authors. His works continue to be studied and admired today for their insight into the historical context in which they were written.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
------------------------------------------
Simms is widely quoted and remembered for his thought-provoking writings on literature, history, and culture. His quotes offer a glimpse into the values and attitudes of the antebellum South, providing valuable insight into this complex period in American history.
"The writer's privilege it is to paint life in its every hue, and from the dark shadows of our nature to bring forth some faint reflection of that light which shines from the throne of God."
— William Gilmore Simms
Quotes by William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms's insights on:
Revelation may not need the help of reason, but man does, even when in possession of revelation. Reason may be described as the candle in the man’s hand, to which revelation brings the necessary flame.
Vanity may be likened to the smooth-skinned and velvet-footed mouse, nibbling about forever in expectation of a crumb; while self-esteem is too apt to take the likeness of the huge butcher’s dog, who carries off your steaks, and growls at you as be goes.
The only true source of politeness is consideration, – that vigilant moral sense which never loses sight of the rights, the claims, and the sensibilities of others. This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman.
Neither praise nor blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe and honestly to award – these are the true aims and duties of criticism.
It should console us for the fact that sin has not totally disappeared from the world, that the saints are not wholly deprived of employment.
The only true source of politeness is consideration,--that vigilant moral sense which never loses sight of the rights, the claims, and the sensibilities of others. This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman.
The only rational liberty is that which is born of subjection, reared in the fear of God and the love of man.
The effect of character is always to command consideration. We sport and toy and laugh with men or women who have none, but we never confide in them.
The wonder is not that the world is so easily governed, but that so small a number of persons will suffice for the purpose. There are dead weights in political and legislative bodies as in clocks, and hundreds answer as pulleys who would never do for politicians.