Richard Watson Gilder Quotes

“Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

Oh, father's gone to market-town, he was up before the day,
And Jamie's after robins, and the man is making hay,
And whistling down the hollow goes the boy that minds the mill,
While mother from the kitchen door is calling with a will,
"Polly!-Polly!-
The cows are in the corn!
Oh, where's Polly?"

— Richard Watson Gilder

Since ancient Time began,
Ever on some great soul God laid an infinite burden
The weight of all this world, the hopes of man,
Conflict and pain, and fame immortal are his guerdon.

— Richard Watson Gilder

“I count my time by times that I meet thee;
These are my yesterdays, my morrows, noons,
And nights, these are my old moons and my new moons.
Slow fly the hours, fast the hours flee,
If thou art far from or art near to me:
If thou art far, the bird's tunes are no tunes;
If thou art near, the wintry days are Junes.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“In Heaven's happy bowers
There blossom two flowers,
One with fiery glow
And one as white as snow;
While lo! before them stands,
With pale and trembling hands,
A spirit who must choose
One, and one refuse.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“In the embers shining bright
A garden grows for thy delight,
With roses yellow, red, and white.
But, O my child, beware, beware!
Touch not the roses growing there,
For every rose a thorn doth bear.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“What if thou be saint or sinner,
Crooked gray-beard, straight beginner,
Empty paunch, or jolly dinner,
When Death thee shall call.
All like are rich or richer,
King with crown, and cross-legged stitcher,
When the grave hides all.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“Give me a theme," the little poet cried, "And I will do my part," "'Tis not a theme you need," the world replied; "You need a heart.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“My name may have buoyancy enough to float upon the sea of time.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

Against the darkness outer God's light his likeness takes, And he from the mighty doubter The great believer makes.

— Richard Watson Gilder

“We lean on Faith; and some less wise have cried, "Behold the butterfly, the see that's cast!" Vain hopes that fall like flowers before the blast! What man can look on Death unterrified?”

— Richard Watson Gilder

What babe new born is this that in a manger cries? Near on her lowly bed his happy mother lies. Oh, see the air is shaken with white and heavenly wings
This is the Lord of all the earth, this is the King of Kings.

— Richard Watson Gilder

Fra Lippo, we have learned from thee A lesson of humanity: To every mother's heart forlorn, In every house the Christ is born.

— Richard Watson Gilder

“I am the spirit of the morning sea, I am the awakening and the glad surprise.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“I am the laughter of the new-born child On whose soft-breathing sleep an angel smiled.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“A man not perfect, but of heart so high, of such heroic rage, That even his hopes became a part of earth's eternal heritage.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“Knights of the spirit; warriors in the cause Of justice absolute 'twixt man and man.”

— Richard Watson Gilder

“Ye living soldiers of the mighty war,
Once more from roaring cannon and the drums
And bugles blown at morn, the summons comes;
Forget the halting limb, each wound and scar:
Once more your Captain calls to you;
Come to his last review!”

— Richard Watson Gilder