Quotes from John Greenleaf Whittier

It is no use trying to sum people up. One must follow hints, not exactly what is said, nor yet entirely what is done.

There is religion in everything around us, - a calm and holy religion in the unbreathing things of Nature, which man would do well to imitate.

On leaf of palm, on sedge-wrought roll; on plastic clay and leather scroll, man wrote his thoughts; the ages passed, and lo! the Press was found at last!

For still the new transcends the old In signs and tokens manifold; Slaves rise up men; the olive waves, With roots deep set in battle graves!

At what point does a man turn into a monster? I don't believe that it's when he does horrible things, but when he accepts that he's able to do them, and that he does them well.

The sooner we recognize the fact that the mercy of the Almighty extends to every creature endowed with life, the better it will be for us as men and Christians.

Man is more than constitutions.

Our toil is sweet with thankfulness, Our burden is our boon; The curse of earth's gray morning is The blessing of its noon.

Swan flocks of lilies shoreward lying, In sweetness, not in music, dying.

Who fathoms the Eternal Thought? Who talks of scheme and plan? The Lord is God! He needeth not The poor device of man.

Beauty seen is never lost, God's colors all are fast.

The smile of God is victory.

With silence only as their benediction, God's angels come Where in the shadow of a great affliction, The soul sits dumb!

God gives quietness at last.

But let the good old corn adorn The hills our fathers trod; Still let us, for his golden corn, Send up our thanks to God!

God blesses still the generous thought,And still the fitting word He speeds,And Truth, at His requiring taught,He quickens into deeds.

God fills the gaps of human need, Each crisis brings its word and deed.

God's providence is not blind, but full of eyes.

Reason's voice and God's, Nature's and Duty's, never are at odds.

Oh, for boyhood's painless play, sleep that wakes in laughing day, health that mocks the doctor's rules, knowledge never learned of schools.

When faith is lost, when honor dies, the man is dead.

Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, Through showers the sunbeams fall; For God, who loveth all his works, Has left his Hope with all.

Every chain that spirits wear crumbles in the breadth of prayer.

The still, sad music of humanity.