John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes and Quotations
No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear; But, grateful, take the good I find, The best of now and here.
Who fathoms the Eternal Thought? Who talks of scheme and plan? The Lord is God! He needeth not The poor device of man.
Yet, in the maddening maze of things, And tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good!
Before me, even as behind, God is, and all is well.
Reason's voice and God's, Nature's and Duty's, never are at odds.
Through the dark and stormy night Faith beholds a feeble light Up the blackness streaking; Knowing God's own time is best, In a patient hope I rest For the full day-breaking!
Every chain that spirits wear crumbles in the breadth of prayer.
The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been.
No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear; but grateful, take the good I find, the best of now and here.
Peace hath higher tests of manhood Than battle ever knew.
Our toil is sweet with thankfulness, Our burden is our boon; The curse of earth's gray morning is The blessing of its noon.
The craven's fear is but selfishness, like his merriment.
For of all sad words of tongues or pen the saddest are these: It might have been.
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag," she said.
"I'm sorry that I spell'd the word; I hate to go above you, Because" - the brown eyes lower fell, - "Because, you see, I love you!"
We search the world for truth; we cull The good, the pure, the beautiful, From all old flower fields of the soul; And, weary seekers of the best, We come back laden from our quest, To find that all the sages said Is in the Book our mothers read.
The windows of my soul I throw Wide open to the sun.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: "It might have been!"