Give what you have. To some one, it may be better than you dare to think. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow More Quotes by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow More Quotes From Henry Wadsworth Longfellow No literature is complete until the language it was written in is dead. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow written language literature O little souls! as pure as white And crystalline as rays of light Direct from heaven, their source divine; Refracted through the mist of years, How red my setting sun appears, How lurid looks this soul of mine! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow light white years Don Quixote thought he could have made beautiful bird-cages and toothpicks if his brain had not been so full of ideas of chivalry. Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ambition beautiful ideas I will be a man among men; and no longer a dreamer among shadows. Henceforth be mine a life of action and reality! I will work in my own sphere, nor wish it other than it is. This alone is health and happiness. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dreamer men reality Think of your woods and orchards without birds! Of empty nests that cling to boughs and beams As in an idiot's brain remembered words Hang empty 'mid the cobwebs of his dreams! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dream bird thinking Who ne'er his bread in sorrow ate, Who ne'er the mournful midnight hours Weeping upon his bed has sate, He knows you not, ye Heavenly Powers. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow bed midnight sorrow With useless endeavour Forever, forever, Is Sisyphus rolling His stone up the mountain! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow mountain useless forever I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow strong song friendship As Unto the bow the the cord is , So unto the man is woman; Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him , yet she follows: Useless each without the other. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow marriage useless men Work is my recreation, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow play work water No one is so accursed by fate, no one so utterly desolate, but some heart though unknown responds unto his own. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow fate destiny heart All was ended now, the hope, and the fear and the sorrow, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow pain heart grieving Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme, Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay; Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime, For oh, it is not always May! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow youth simple may Your education begins where what is called your education is over. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow fate over-you common Some must follow and some command, through all are made oclay. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow command made men The day is done; and slowly from the scene the stooping sun upgathers his spent shafts, and puts them back into his golden quiver! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow golden done twilight Were a star quenched on high,For ages would its light,Still travelling downward from the sky,Shine on our mortal sight. So when a great man dies,For years beyond our ken,The light he leaves behind him liesUpon the paths of men. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stars sky men Method is more important than strength, when you wish to control your enemies. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow snakes wish enemy The Helicon of too many poets is not a hill crowned with sunshine and visited by the Muses and the Graces, but an old, mouldering house, full of gloom and haunted by ghosts. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sunshine grace house The true poet is a friendly man. He takes to his arms even cold and inanimate things, and rejoices in his heart. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heart friendly men
