Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) was a Scottish poet, playwright, editor, and critic. She was famous for her Plays on the Passions, which, along with her other plays, were produced in leading theaters in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America. Thanks to literary scholarship, her works fell into neglect soon after her death and resurfaced in the 20th century.
Born in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Baillie received little formal education. Her father instructed her initially, and she then attended five or six years of boarding school in Glasgow.
Baillie published her first book of poems in London and wrote drama (1779–91.) Moving to Hampstead, she published Plays on the Passions (3 vols., 1800, 1802, 1812,) in addition to several poems (1791.) Her tragedy Constantine Paleologus: or the Last of the Caesars (1804) was assessed by philosopher John Stuart Mill to be ‘one of the best dramas of the last two centuries.’
Baillie enjoyed a close friendship with Scottish writer Walter Scott, who described her The Family Legend (1810) as a ‘complete and decided triumph,’ instituting Baillie as a literary and social success. Baillie also published a religious pamphlet upholding the human nature of Christ (1831) and her complete works in London (1851.)
Margaret Sprague Carhart wrote The Life and Work of Joanna Baillie (1923.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Joanna Baillie
The strength of man sinks in the hour of trial: but there doth live a power that to the battle girdeth the weak.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Weakness
Half uttered praise is to the curious mind, as to the eye half veiled beauty is more precious than the whole.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Praise
The brave man is not he who feels no fear, for that were stupid and irrational; but he whose noble soul subdues its fear, and bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Courage, Bravery
The inward sighs of humble penitence rise to the ear of heaven, when pealed hymns are scattered to the common air.
—Joanna Baillie
Busy work brings after ease;
Ease brings sport and sport brings rest;
For young and old, of all degrees,
The mingled lot is best.
—Joanna Baillie
Heaven often smites in mercy, even when the blow is severest.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Adversity
Dreams full oft are found of real events the forms and shadows.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Dreams
A willing heart adds feather to the heel.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Attitude
He that will not give some portion of his ease, his blood, his wealth, for others’ good, is a poor, frozen churl.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Benevolence, Kindness, Philanthropy
A good man’s prayers will from the deepest dungeon climb heaven’s height, and bring a blessing down.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Prayer
Some men are born to feast, and not to fight; Whose sluggish minds, e’en in fair honor’s field, Still on their dinner turn—Let such pot-boiling varlets stay at home, And wield a flesh-hook rather than a sword.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Eating
That looked as though an angel, in his upward flight, had left his mantle floating in mid-air.
—Joanna Baillie
If my heart were not light, I would die.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Cheerfulness
Pampered vanity is a hotter thing perhaps than starved pride.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Vanity
She who only finds her self-esteem in admiration, depends on others for her daily food and is the very servant of her slaves.—Over men she may exert a childish power, which not ennobles, but degrades her state.
—Joanna Baillie
I believe the earth on which we stand is but the vestibule to glorious mansions, to which a moving crowd is forever pressing.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Earth
From the sad years of life we sometimes do short hours, yea, minutes strike, keen, blissful, bright, never to be forgotten; which, through the dreary gloom of time o’erpast, shine like fair sunny spots on a wild waste.
—Joanna Baillie