Poems List

Intellectually, I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.

I used to be Snow White -- but I drifted.

He that cannot decidedly say, "No," when tempted to evil, is on the highway to ruin. He loses the respect even of those who would tempt him, and becomes but the pliant tool and victim of their evil designs.

In thy apparel avoid singularity, profuseness, and gaudiness. Be not too early in the fashion, nor too late. Decency is half way between affectation and neglect. The body is the shell of the soul, apparel is the husk of that shell; the husk often tells you what the kernel is.

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.

America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered.

The key to your universe is that you can choose.

Seest thou good days? Prepare for evil times. No summer but hath its winter. He never reaped comfort in adversity that sowed not in prosperity.

The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start vibrating like a jackhammer, the ones that you "come to terms with" only to discover that they are still there. The real questions refuse to be placated. They barge into your life at the times when it seems most important for them to stay away. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true natures slowly, reluctantly, most often against your will.

I just want to say this. I want to say it gently but I want to say it firmly: There is a tendency for the world to say to America, "the big problems of the world are yours, you go and sort them out," and then to worry when America wants to sort them out.

Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason.

Hath any wronged thee, be bravely revenged. Slight it, and the work?s begun; forgive it, and ?tis finished. He is below himself that is not above an injury.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American.

To decide, to be at the level of choice, is to take responsibility for your life and to be in control of your life.

The way to subject all things to thyself is to subject thyself to reason; thou shalt govern many if reason govern thee. Wouldst thou be a monarch of a little world, command thyself.

The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.

How ridiculous and unrealistic is the man who is astonished at anything that happens in life.

If thou desire not to be poor, desire not to be too rich. He is rich, not that possesses much, but he that covets no more; and he is poor, not that enjoys little, but he that wants too much. The contented mind wants nothing which it hath not; the covetous mind wants, not only what it hath not, but likewise what it hath.

Every person, all the events of your life are drawn there because you have them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.

It is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.

There is only one success- to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Our children seem to have wonderful taste, or none - depending, of course, on whether or not they agree with us.

Be very circumspect in the choice of thy company. In the society of thy equals thou shalt enjoy more pleasure; in the society of thy superiors thou shalt find more profit. To be the best of the company is the way to grow worse; the best means to grow better is to be the worst there.