Thomas More (considered a Saint by the Catholic Church) was born on this day in 1478.  A very learned man, More rose to power during the reign of Henry VIII, ascending to the position of Chancellor.  Eventually, however, he fell out favor and was executed  for treason in 1535. Here are two quotes attributed to him.

“Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal”

“Family life is full of major and minor crises — the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce — and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It’s difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.”

On Feb. 7, 1817, Frederick Douglass, the African=American abolitionist leader, was born (he died in 1895).  A fierce opponent of slavery, he did all he could do to bring about its demise.  Some quotes follow.

“A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.”

“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”