Quote#Freedom
Thou warden of the western gate, above Manhattan Bay
Quote byHenry van Dyke · 1852–1933
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Liberty Enlightening the World (1917).
English (original)
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.
— Henry van Dyke
More from Henry van Dyke
And so, by night, while we were all at rest, I think the coming sped the parting guest.
Raise the stone, and thou shalt find me; cleave the wood and there am I.
So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all the rest are flown, Returns a solitary tone,—
A tear that trembles for a little while Upon the trembling eyelid, till the world Wavers within its circle like a dream, Holds more of meaning in its narrow orb Than all the distant landscape that it blurs.
What we do belongs to what we are; and what we are is what becomes of us.
The legend of Felix is ended, the toiling of Felix is done; The Master has paid him his wages, the goal of his journey is won; He rests, but he never is idle; a thousand years pass like a day, In the glad surprise of Paradise where work is …