Ronald F. Maxwell, in his depiction of Chamberlain in his screenplay for Gettysburg (1993), using a quote of William Shakespeare · YouTube clip
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I haven't known that many freedmen. But those I knew in Bangor, Portland, — you look in the eye — there was a man. There was a "divine spark", as my mother used to call it. That is all there is to it. Races are men. "What a piece of work is man. How infinite in faculties and form, and movement. How express and admirable. In action how like an angel".
— Ronald F. Maxwell
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I haven't known that many freedmen. But those I knew in Bangor, Portland, — you look in the eye — there was a man. There was a "divine spark", as my mother used to call it. That is all there is to it. Races are men. "What a piece of work is man. How infinite in faculties and form, and movement. How express and admirable. In action how like an angel"." in the context of "Ronald F. Maxwell, in his depiction of Chamberlain in his screenplay for Gettysburg (1993), using a quote of William Shakespeare · YouTube clip" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Joshua Chamberlain" (Quotes about Joshua L Chamberlain)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Joshua Chamberlain
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (8 September 1828 – 24 February 1914) was an American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. Although having no earlier education in military strategies, he became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). For his gallantry at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After the war, he entered politics as a Republican and served four one-year terms of office as Governor of Maine. He served on the faculty of, and as president of, his alma mater, Bowdoin College.
About Joshua Chamberlain
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (8 September 1828 – 24 February 1914) was an American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. Although having no earlier education in military strategies, he became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). For his gallantry at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After the war, he entered politics as a Republican and served four one-year terms of office as Governor of Maine. He served on the faculty of, and as president of, his alma mater, Bowdoin College.
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