Born in Waterford, New York, in 1820, Bovee initially worked as a journalist before turning his attention to writing and lecturing on philosophical and moral topics.
"Summaries of Thought" was a popular and influential work in the 19th century. It offers pithy and thought-provoking statements on various aspects of human experience and behavior. Some notable maxims from the book include:
* "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, duty, mercy, hope."
* "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
* "The best way to predict the future is to create it."
* "Character is fate."
Bovee's work was influenced by various philosophical and literary sources, including the Stoic philosophers, the Bible, and the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and other transcendentalists. He sought to distill wisdom from a wide range of sources and present it in a concise and accessible form.
Bovee continued to write essays and give lectures throughout his life. He also edited several newspapers and magazines, including "The New York Ledger" and "The Western Literary Magazine". Bovee died in Pasadena, California, in 1904, leaving a legacy of thought-provoking and insightful observations on human life and society.