The Typical American? He is sent to school Little or much, where he imbibes the rule Of safety first and comfort; in his youth He joins the church and ends the quest of truth. Edgar Lee Masters More Quotes by Edgar Lee Masters More Quotes From Edgar Lee Masters Many books have been written to show that Christianity has emasculated the world, that it shoved aside the enlightenment and wisdom of Hellas for a doctrine of superstition and ignorance. Edgar Lee Masters atheism ignorance book In time you shall see Fate approach youIn the shape of your own image in the mirror;Or you shall sit alone by your own hearth,And suddenly the chair by you shall hold a guest,And you shall know that guest,And read the authentic message of his eyes. Edgar Lee Masters fate mirrors eye O maternal earth which rocks the fallen leaf to sleep! Edgar Lee Masters rocks nature sleep Beware of the man who rises to power from one suspender. Edgar Lee Masters rise-to-power he-man men He stripped off the armor of institutional friendships To dedictate his soul To the terrible deities of Truth and Beauty. Edgar Lee Masters armor atheism soul . . . the weal of the race, and the cause of humanity, here and now, are enough To give life meaning and death as well. Edgar Lee Masters race humanity giving What is this I hear of sorrow and weariness, Anger, discontent and drooping hopes? Degenerate sons and daughters, Life is too strong for you— It takes life to love Life. Edgar Lee Masters love-life daughter strong Such phantom blossoms palely shining Edgar Lee Masters phantoms shining time This is a man with an old face, always old... There was pathos, in his face, and in his eyes. The early weariness; and sometimes tears in his eyes, Which he let slip unconsciously on his cheek, Or brushed away with an unconcerned hand. There were tears for human suffering, or for a glance Into the vast futility of life, Which he had seen from the first, being old When he was born. Edgar Lee Masters futility-of-life eye men The spiritual kinship between Lincoln and Whitman was founded upon their Americanism, their essential Westernism. Whitman had grown up without much formal education; Lincoln had scarcely any education. One had become the notable poet of the day; one the orator of the Gettsyburg Address. It was inevitable that Whitman as a poet should turn with a feeling of kinship to Lincoln, and even without any association or contact feel that Lincoln was his. Edgar Lee Masters essentials spiritual feelings This is Darrow, Inadequately scrawled, with his young, old heart, And his drawl, and his infinite paradox And his sadness, and kindness, And his artist sense that drives him to shape his life To something harmonious, even against the schemes of God. Edgar Lee Masters sadness kindness heart The earth keeps some vibration going There in your heart, and that is you. And if the people find you can fiddle, why fiddle you must, for all your life. Edgar Lee Masters earth heart people The soul of the river had entered my soul, And the gathered power of my soul was moving So swiftly, it seemed to be at rest Under cities of cloud and under Spheres of silver and changing worlds Until I saw a flash of trumpets Above the battlements over Time! Edgar Lee Masters cities clouds moving Why, a moral truth is a hollow tooth Which must be propped with gold. Edgar Lee Masters teeth moral gold The dust's for crawling, heaven's for flying, Wherefore, O Soul, whose wings are grown, Soar upward to the sun! Edgar Lee Masters dust wings heaven
