John Weiss (1818–59) was an American writer, editor, and social reformer known for his influential essays and outspoken positions on social and political issues during the 19th century.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Weiss was educated at Harvard University, where he developed a passion for literature and public discourse. He worked briefly as a teacher before turning his attention to writing and editing. He was associated with various publications and collaborated with notable figures of his era, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. His early works were marked by a desire to explore the moral and philosophical underpinnings of society.
Weiss is best known for his essays and social commentary, including The Life of Theodore Parker (1863,) published posthumously, which highlights the transcendentalist theologian and reformer. He also wrote Lectures and Essays (1852,) a collection that showcases his eloquent prose and intellectual rigor. His writing often reflected his deep concern for issues such as abolition, equality, and the condition of the working class.
His tenure as editor of The New England Magazine and his contributions to The Atlantic Monthly cemented his role as a key voice in American literary and reformist circles.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Weiss
Irony is jesting behind hidden gravity.
—John Weiss
The theory that can absorb the greatest number of facts, and persist in doing so, generation after generation through all changes of opinion and detail, is the one that must rule all observation.
—John Weiss
Topics: Life
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