John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes - Page 2

And step by step, since time began, I see the steady gain of man.

The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains.

There is religion in everything around us, - a calm and holy religion in the unbreathing things of Nature, which man would do well to imitate.

Thee lift me, and I lift thee, and together we ascend.

O Time and change! - with hair as gray as was my sire's that winter day, how strange it seems, with so much gone of life and love, to still live on!

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

The hope of all who suffer, The dread of all who wrong.

All day the darkness and the cold Upon my heart have lain Like shadows on the winter sky Like frost upon the pane

If woman lost us Eden, such As she alone restore it.

The green earth sends her incense up. From many a mountain shrine; From folded leaf and dewey cup She pours her sacred wine.

I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care.

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!

We live by faith; but Faith is not the slave Of text and legend. Reason's voice and God's, Nature's and Duty's, never are at odds. What asks our Father of His children, save Justice and mercy and humility, A reasonable service of good deeds, Pure living, tenderness to human needs, Reverence and trust, and prayer for light to see The Master's footprints in our daily ways? No knotted scourge nor sacrificial knife, But the calm beauty of an ordered life Whose very breathing is unworded praise! - A life that stands as all true lives have stood Firm-rooted in the faith that God is Good.

The slave will be free. Democracy in America will yet be a glorious reality; and when the top-stone of that temple of freedom which our fathers left unfinished shall be brought forth with shoutings and cries of grace unto it, when our now drooping Liberty lifts up her head and prospers, happy will he be who can say, with John Milton, "Among those who have something more than wished her welfare, I, too, have my charter and freehold of rejoicing to me and my heirs."

God's providence is not blind, but full of eyes.

God fills the gaps of human need, Each crisis brings its word and deed.

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

Who sows a field, or trains a flower, Or plants at tree, is more than all.

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 child must teach the man.

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

For still the new transcends the old In signs and tokens manifold; Slaves rise up men; the olive waves, With roots deep set in battle graves!

As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than the truth.

The smile of God is victory.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace.