John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes

For of all sad words of tongue or pen The saddest are these: "It might have been!"
John Greenleaf Whittier
No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear but grateful take the good I find the best of now and here.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Of all sad words of tongue or pen the saddest are these: It might have been.
John Greenleaf Whittier
The windows of my soul I throw Wide open to the sun.
John Greenleaf Whittier
We search the world for truth we cull The good the pure the beautiful From all old flower fields of the soul And weary seekers of the best We come back laden from our quest To find that all the sages said Is in the Book our mothers read.
John Greenleaf Whittier
For of all sad words of tongues or pen the saddest are these: It might have been.
John Greenleaf Whittier
The simple heart that freely asks in love obtains.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Every chain that spirits wear crumbles in the breadth of prayer.
John Greenleaf Whittier
The simple heart that freely asks in love obtains.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Every chain that spirits wear crumbles in the breadth of prayer.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Before me even as behind God is and all is well.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Yet in the maddening maze of things And tossed by storm and flood To one fixed trust my spirit clings I know that God is good!
John Greenleaf Whittier
Who fathoms the Eternal Thought? Who talks of scheme and plan? The Lord is God! He needeth not The poor device of man.
John Greenleaf Whittier
No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear But grateful take the good I find The best of now and here.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Shoot if you must this old gray head But spare your country's flag she said.
John Greenleaf Whittier
The craven's fear is but selfishness like his merriment.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Through the dark and stormy night Faith beholds a feeble light Up the blackness streaking Knowing God's own time is best In a patient hope I rest For the full day-breaking!
John Greenleaf Whittier
Reason's voice and God's Nature's and Duty's never are at odds.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Our toil is sweet with thankfulness Our burden is our boon The curse of earth's gray morning is The blessing of its noon.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Peace hath higher tests of manhood Than battle ever knew.
John Greenleaf Whittier
Methinks I see the sunset light flooding the river valley, the western hills stretching to the horizon, overhung with trees gorgeous and glowing with the tints of autumn -- a mighty flower garden blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.
John Greenleaf Whittier
The tints of autumn...a mighty flower garden blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.
John Greenleaf Whittier
the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you
John Greenleaf Whittier
So all night long the storm roared on:The morning broke without a sun;In tiny spherule traced with linesOf Nature’s geometric signs,In starry flake, and pellicle,All day the hoary meteor fell;And, when the second morning shone,We looked upon a world unknown,On nothing we could call our own.Around the glistening wonder bentThe blue walls of the firmament,No cloud above, no earth below,—A universe of sky and snow!
John Greenleaf Whittier
Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.
John Greenleaf Whittier