Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness at the age of nineteen months.
Despite her handicaps, she attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Keller was a prolific author, writing 14 books and hundreds of speeches and essays on multiple topics.
When Keller was young, Anne Sullivan introduced her to Phillips Brooks, who introduced her to Christianity, Keller famously saying: “I always knew He was there, but I didn’t know His name!”
Helen Keller was viewed as isolated but was very in touch with the outside world. She was able to enjoy music by feeling the beat and she was able to have a strong connection with animals through touch. She was delayed at picking up language, but that did not stop her from having a voice.
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On Struggling
The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike.
It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.
“We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.”
I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.
On Living in the Present
There will never be another now – I’ll make the most of today.
There will never be another me – I’ll make the most of myself.
On Essential Truths
On Achievement
When we do the best we can, we never know what miracles await.
On Her Handicap
They took away what should have been my eyes
(but I remembered Milton’s Paradise).
They took away what should have been my ears,
(Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)
They took away what should have been my tongue,
(but I had talked with God when I was young)
He would not let them take away my soul,
possessing that I still possess the whole.
On the Lighter Side
Finally,
If I, deaf, blind, find life rich and interesting, how much more can you gain by the use of your five senses!