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Ethics: An Early American Handbook
The study and understanding of the principles of ethics was never more needful than today. Children and adults alike will benefit from our reprint of this 1890 textbook on ethics. Featuring such traits as industry, honesty, gratitude, purity, and duty to God, this work will inspire citizens of all ages to a great elevation of their own character and therefore of the nation s character."
Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
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About the author
Jacob Abbott
1,400 books91 followersAbbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820; studied at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, 1822, and 1824; was tutor in 1824-1825, and from 1825 to 1829 was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College; was licensed to preach by the Hampshire Association in 1826; founded the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston in 1829, and was principal of it in 1829-1833; was pastor of Eliot Congregational Church (which he founded), at Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1834-1835; and was, with his brothers, a founder, and in 1843-1851 a principal of Abbott's Institute, and in 1845-1848 of the Mount Vernon School for Boys, in New York City.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 12, 2018
Interesting little book. This late nineteenth century, school primer deals with a full range of subjects including Lying, Politeness, Duties to Dumb Creatures as well as Duty to God. Filled with hundred-year-old applications for young people that, because they are based on timeless principles, never grow old.
May 20, 2022
The clarity you get by this simplicity is... amazing and convicting.
June 25, 2008
This is the early handbook for moral instruction in America's first schools. Early American education centered ethics, virtue and the training of moral character as the core of a superior education. Educated society believed that education without virtue produced intelligent criminals. Their solution was a sound education in virtue. This book has practical lessons with examples and questions on such virtues as honesty, courage, modesty, industriousness, loyalty, etc. The lack of these teachings is prevalent in society today as crime on every level escalates and the collective moral conscience increasingly becomes non-existent.
If this was what was taught in school, my kids would be there! I learned a tremendous amount from reading this ethics book, not just about the way early Americans thought, believed and lived, but about their reasons, to protect liberty en masse, and to save each soul from moral decay. I learned the term "prevaricate" which is a form of dishonesty I had never heard of prior to this reading.
What a great book! It's a fast, but tremendously worthwhile read. I'm studying it with my kids now...
If this was what was taught in school, my kids would be there! I learned a tremendous amount from reading this ethics book, not just about the way early Americans thought, believed and lived, but about their reasons, to protect liberty en masse, and to save each soul from moral decay. I learned the term "prevaricate" which is a form of dishonesty I had never heard of prior to this reading.
What a great book! It's a fast, but tremendously worthwhile read. I'm studying it with my kids now...
May 26, 2015
I wished I had this book around when I was younger. It may have kept me from a lot of troubles.
October 7, 2008
A great book for teaching ethics that we should all know and live by.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews