5 Inspirations – I
Take Life…
“Take life just as though it was-as it is-an earnest, vital and important affair. Take it as though you were born to the task of performing a merry part in it–as though, the world awaited your coming.
Take it as though it was a grand opportunity to do and achieve, to carry forward great and good schemes, to help and cheer a suffering, weary, it may be heart-broken brother.
Now and then a man stands aside from the crowd, labors earnestly, steadfastly, confidently, and straightway becomes famous for wisdom, intellect, skill, greatness of some sort.
The world wonders, admires, idolizes, and it only illustrates what others may do if they take hold of life with a purpose.
The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few, is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the promptings of a brave, determined spirit.”
- From a well-worn clipping preserved in an early note-book belonging to Mark Twain.
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Do you fear the wind ?
Do you fear the force of the wind,
The slash of the rain ?
Go face them and fight them,
Be savage again.
Go hungry and cold like the wolf,
Go wade like the crane ;
The palms of your hands will thicken,
The skin of your cheek will tan,
You’ll grow ragged and weary and swarthy,
But you’ll walk like a man !
- Hamlin Garland
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Life’s Lesson
I learn, as the years roll onward
And I leave the past behind,
That much I had counted sorrow
But proved that God is kind ;
That many a flower I’d longed for
Had hidden a thorn of pain
And many a rugged bypath
Led to the fields of ripened grain.
The clouds that cover the sunshine ;
They cannot banish the sun,
And the earth shines out the brighter
When the weary rain is done.
We must stand in the deepest shadow
To see the clearest light ;
And often through wrong’s own darkness
Comes the welcome strength of Right.
- Anonymous
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Hills Ahead
The hills ahead look hard and steep and high
And often we behold them with a sigh ;
But as we near them level grows the road.
We find on every slope with every load
The climb is not so steep, the top so far,
The hills ahead look harder than they are.
And so it is with troubles though they seem so great
That men complain and fear and hesitate ;
Less difficult the journey than we dreamed
It never proves as hard as once it seemed,
There never comes a task, a hill, a day
But as we near it – easier the way.
- Douglas Mallock
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Minutes of Gold
Two or three minutes – two or three hours,
What do they mean in this life of ours ?
Not very much if but counted as time,
But minutes of gold and hours sublime,
If only we’ll use them once in a while
To make someone happy – make someone smile.
A minute may dry a little lad’s tears,
An hour sweep aside trouble of years.
Minutes of my time may bring to an end
Hopelessness somewhere, and bring me a friend.
- Anonymous
Related Reading:
» Inspiring Quotes – I
» Inspiring Quotes – II
» Inspiring Quotes – III
» 5 Inspirations – II
» 5 Inspirations – III