Quotes

Phillis Wheatley’s most famous quotes have been extracted from her book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral published in 1773.

“Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach”

– Phillis Wheatley, On Virtue in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head

– Phillis Wheatley, On Virtue in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

While an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,
The muses promise to assist my pen

-Phillis Wheatley, To the University of Cambridge in New England in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

Father of mercy, ’twas thy gracious hand
Brought me in safety from those dark abodes

-Phillis Wheatley, To the University of Cambridge in New England in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

Life without death, and glory without end

-Phillis Wheatley, To the University of Cambridge in New England in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

“But say, ye Muses, why this partial grace,
To one alone of Afric’s sable race;
From age to age transmitting thus his name
With the finest glory in the rolls of fame?
Thy virtues, great Maecenas! shall be sung
In praise of him, from whom those virtues sprung.”

– Phillis Wheatley, To Maecenas in Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.