"He was unquestionably one of those who like to sit upon a platform," wrote, at the time of his death, one who knew Alcott well, "and he may have liked to feel that his venerable aspect had the effect of a benediction." But with this mild criticism, censure of him is well-nigh exhausted.

There was nothing of the Patriarch of Bleeding Heart Yard about him except that "venerable aspect," for which nature was responsible, and not he.
Fruitlands was the caricature of Brook Farm.

Just as the fanatic is the caricature of the true reformer, so was Alcott the caricature of Ripley.

This is not meant as disparaging either Alcott's sincerity or his intelligence, but to affirm that he lacked judgment, that he miscalculated means and ends, that he jumped from theory to practice without a moment's interval, preferred to be guided by instinct rather than by processes of reasoning, and deemed this to be the philosopher's way.
In the memoranda of private conversations with Father Hecker we find several references to Mr.Alcott.The first bears date February 4, 1882, and occurs in a conversation ranging over the whole of his experience between his first and second departures from home.

We give it as it stands: "Fruitlands was very different from Brook Farm--far more ascetic." "You didn't like it ?" "Yes; but they did not begin to satisfy me.