Quote #42

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth; They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be, Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea, Nor attempt the Future's portal with the Past's blood-rusted key.

More from James Russell Lowell

  1. Count me o'er earth's chosen heroes,-they were souls that stood alone, While the men they agonized for hurled the contumelious stone, Stood…
  2. Not only around our infancy Doth heaven with all its splendors lie; Daily, with souls that cringe and plot, We Sinais climb and know it not.
  3. Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,- Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God …
  4. For a cap and bells our lives we pay, Bubbles we earn with a whole soul's tasking: 'Tis heaven alone that is given away, 'Tis only God may …
  5. Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side.
  6. And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly he…
  7. Two meanings have our lightest fantasies,- One of the flesh, and of the spirit one.
  8. Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it; We are happy now because God wills it.

All James Russell Lowell quotes