Richard Watson Gilder Quotes

Richard Watson Gilder offers lyrical musings on love and light that feel like a gentle, hopeful whisper.

16 quotes

  1. Not from the whole wide world I chose thee, Sweetheart, light of the land and the sea! The wide, wide world could not inclose thee, For thou art the whole wide world to me.

  2. Through love to light! Oh wonderful the way That leads from darkness to the perfect day!

  3. I am a woman-therefore I may not Call to him, cry to him, Fly to him, Bid him delay not.

  4. O white and midnight sky, O starry bath, Wash me in thy pure, heavenly crystal flood: Cleanse me, ye stars, from earthly soil and scath- Let not one taint remain in spirit or blood!

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

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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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!

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

  11. 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?"

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

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

  15. 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.

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