Henry van Dyke

"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."

"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,— The after-echo of departed years,— And touches all the soul to tears."

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

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

"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, Time is Eternity. (Music and Other Poems, 1904)"

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

"As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge."

"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."

"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 Freedom’s altar-fire: For thou must suffer, thou must fight, until the warlords cease, And all the peoples lift their heads in liberty and peace."