Quotes from John Greenleaf Whittier

Of all sad words of tongue and pen the saddest are these, what might have been.

Of all that Orient lands can vaunt, of marvels with our own competing, the strangest is the Haschish plant, and what will follow on its eating.

Speak out in acts; the time for words has passed, and only deeds will suffice.

The dreariest spot in all the land to Death they set apart; with scanty grace from Nature's hand, and none from that of Art.

The saddest thing of word or pen, To know the things that might have been.

Through this broad street, restless ever, ebbs and flows a human tide, wave on wave a living river; wealth and fashion side by side; Toiler, idler, slave and master, in the same quick current glide.

Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.

The windows of my soul I throw Wide open to the sun.

A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry christmas!

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.

Flowers spring to blossom where she walks The careful ways of duty; Our hard, stiff lines of life with her Are flowing curves of beauty.

The tints of autumn...a mighty flower garden blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.

No longer forward or behind I look in hope or fear, But grateful, take the good I find, The best of now and here.

the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you

Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew.

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

So all night long the storm roared on: The morning broke without a sun; In tiny spherule traced with lines Of Nature's geometric signs, In starry flake, and pellicle, All day the hoary meteor fell; And, when the second morning shone, We looked upon a world unknown, On nothing we could call our own. Around the glistening wonder bent The blue walls of the firmament, No cloud above, no earth below,— A universe of sky and snow!

I'll lift you and you lift me, and we'll both ascend together.

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 continuity of life is never broken; the river flows onward and is lost to our sight, but under its new horizon it carries the same waters which it gathered under ours, and its unseen valleys are made glad by the offerings which are borne down to them from the past,--flowers, perchance, the germs of which its own waves had planted on the banks of Time.

Nothing before, nothing behind; The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The Rock beneath.

Clothe with life the weak intent, Let me be the thing I meant ...

And sweet and far as from a star, replied a voice which shall not cease, till drowning all the noise of war, it sings the blessed song of peace

Rest if you must, but never quit.