Fenner Brockway, in a 1929 obituary of Carpenter, acknowledged him as an influence on Brockway and his associates when young. Brockway described Carpenter as "the greatest spiritual inspiration of our lives. "Towards Democracy" was our Bible." Ansel Adams was an admirer of Carpenter's writings, especially "Towards Democracy". Emma Goldman cited Carpenter's books as an influence on her thought, and stated that Carpenter possessed "the wisdom of the sage." Countee Cullen said about reading Carpenter's book "Iolaus" that "It opened up for me soul windows which had been closed".