Let the radiance of my enthusiasms envelop the poor courtyard and the bare classroom. Let my heart be a stronger column and my goodwill purer gold than the columns and gold of rich schools.

There is the joy of being healthy and fair, but there is overall the beauty, the immense joy of being useful.

Now my belly is as noble as my heart.

All night I have suffered; all night my flesh has trembled to bring forth its gift. The sweat of death is on my forehead; but it is not death, it is life!

We are guilty of many errors and many faults, But our worst crime is abandoning the children, Neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, His blood is being made, And his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer 'Tomorrow.' His name is 'Today.'

My grief and my smile begin in your face, my son.

Let the earth look at me, and bless me, for now I am fecund and sacred, like the palms and the furrows.