John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes

Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew.

Let the thick curtain fall;
I better know than all
How little I have gained,
How vast the unattained.

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: "It might have been!

For they the mind of Christ discern
Who lean, like John, upon His breast.

If thou of fortune be bereft,
and in thy store there be but left
two loaves, sell one, and with the
dole, buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

God's ways seem dark, but, soon or late,
They touch the shining hills of day;
The evil cannot brook delay,
The good can well afford to wait.

A manly form at her side she saw, And joy was duty and love was law. Then she took up her burden of life again, Saying only, "It might have been".

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow — You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out — The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit — It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

Low stir of leaves and dip of oars
And lapsing waves on quiet shores.

When faith is lost, when honor dies
The man is dead!

If we write at all, why not use our talents to the best advantage?

Falsehoods which we spurn to-day
Were the truths of long ago.

Perish with him the folly that seeks through evil good.

I walk with bare, hushed feet the ground
Ye tread with boldness shod;
I dare not fix with mete and bound
The love and power of God...
I know not where his islands lift
Their fronded palms in the air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond his love and care.

Success is failure turned inside out.