Henry Van Dyke Quotes

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.

To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind - this is a choice which is possible for all of us; and surely it is a good haven to sail for.

Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.

Be grateful for the tiny details of your life and make room for unexpected and beautiful blessings.

There is no conflict between the Old and the New; the conflict is between the False and the True.

What you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever.

Life is an arrow, therefore you must know What mark to aim at, how to use the bow-- Then draw it to the head and let it go!

Happiness is inward, and not outward; and so, it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are.

Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.

The strength of your life is measured by the strength of your will.

One truly affectionate soul in a family will evert a sweetening and harmonizing influence upon all its members.

There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.

Genius is talent set on fire by courage.

Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last

The best rose-bush, after all, is not that which has the fewest thorns, but that which bears the finest roses.

We measure success by accumulation. The measure is false. The true measure is appreciation. He who loves most has most.

A river is the most human and companionable of all inanimate things. It has a life, a character, a voice of its own; and it is as full of good fellowship as a sugar maple is of sap. It can talk in various tones, loud or low, and of many subjects grave and gay.... For real company and friendship there is nothing, outside of the animal kingdom, that is comparable to a river.

There is only one way to get ready for immortality, and that is to love this life and live it as bravely and faithfully and cheerfully as we can.

be glαd of life, becαuse it gives you the chαnce to love αnd to work αnd to plαy αnd to look up αt the stαrs; to be sαtisfied with your posessions, to despise nothing in the world except fαlsehood αnd meαnness αnd to feαr nothing except cowαrdice; to be governed by your αdmirαtions rαther thαn by your disgusts, to covet nothing thαt is your neighbour's except his kindness of heαrt αnd gentleness of mαnners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends and to spend αs much time αs you cαn with body αnd with spirit.

You can never begin to live until you dare to die.

Love that leads life upward is the noblest and the best.

Faith is an adventure; it is the courage of the soul to face the unknown. But that courage springs from the hope and confidence of the soul that its adventure will succeed.

It is better to burn the candle at both ends, and in the middle, too, than to put it away in the closet and let the mice eat it.

Love is not getting, but giving; It is goodness, and honor, and peace and pure living.