All the means of action -- the shapeless masses -- the materials -- lie everywhere about us. What we need is the celestial fire to change the flint into the transparent crystal, bright and clear. That fire is genius.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowThe setting of a great hope is like the setting of the sun. The brightness of our life is gone.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowWhen you ask one friend to dine, Give him your best wine! When you ask two, The second best will do!
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowLet him not boast who puts his armor on as he who puts it off, the battle done.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowAs a fond mother, when the day is o'er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, Half willing, half reluctant to be led, And leave his broken playthings on the floor. Still gazing at them through the open door, Nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead Which, the more splendid, may not please him more; So Nature deals with us, and takes away Our playthings one by one, and by the hand Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay, Being too full of sleep to understand How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow