Henry van Dyke

Death comes in its own time, in its own way. Death is as unique as the individual experiencing it.

Time Is... Too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice, But for those who love,

Self is the only prison that can ever bind the soul.

The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride: The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside.

Oh, come as comes the morn. Serene and strong and full of faith, America, arise, With steady hope and mighty help to join thy brave Allies. O dearest country of my heart, home of the high desire, Make clean thy soul for sacrifice on …

Thou warden of the western gate, above Manhattan Bay, The fogs of doubt that hid thy face are driven clean away: Thine eyes at last look far and clear, thou liftest high thy hand To spread the light of liberty world-wide for every land.

Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me! I want a ship that’s westward bound to plow the rolling sea, To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars, Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

I know that Europe’s wonderful, yet something seems to lack; The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.

Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air; And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair; And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome; But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.

No amount of energy will take the place of thought.

The simple life which blandly ignores all care and conflict, soon becomes flabby and invertebrate, sentimental and gelatinous.

Christ never asks us to give up merely for the sake of giving up, but always in order to win something better.

How often a man has cause to return thanks for the enthusiasms of his friends! They are the little fountains that run down from the hills to refresh the mental desert of the despondent.

Romantic love interests almost everybody, because almost everybody knows something about it, or would like to know.

Every mountain is, rightly considered, an invitation to climb.

The promotion from all-day picnics to a two weeks' camping-trip is like going from school to college.

The mountain is voiceless and imperturbable; and its very loftiness and serenity sometimes make us the more lonely.

For real company and friendship, there is nothing outside of the animal kingdom that is comparable to a river.

I'm only wishing to go a-fishing; For this the month of May was made.

For ever so our thoughtful hearts repeat On fields of triumph dirges of defeat; And still we turn on gala-days to tread Among the rustling memories of the dead.

The storm is ended! The impartial sun Laughs down upon the battle lost and won, And crowns the triumph of the cloudy host In rolling lines retreating to the coast.

I heard through the night The rush and the clamour; The pulse of the fight Like blows of Thor's hammer; The pattering flight Of the leaves, and the anguished

In warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood.

He that planteth a tree is the servant of God, He provideth a kindness for many generations, And faces that he hath not seen shall bless him.