At first, heard solemn o'er the verge of Heaven, The Tempest growls; but as it nearer comes, And rolls its awful burden on the wind, The Lightnings flash a larger curve, and more The Noise astounds; till overhead a sheet Of livid flame discloses wide, then shuts, And opens wider; shuts and opens still Expansive, wrapping ether in a blaze. Follows the loosen'd aggravated Roar, Enlarging, deepening, mingling, peal on peal, Crush'd, horrible, convulsing Heaven and Earth.

CHRISTMAS DAY Thou hast not made, or taught me, Lord, to care For times and seasons -- but this one glad day Is the blue sapphire clasping all the lights That flash in the girdle of the year so fair When thou wast born a man -- because alway Thou wast and art a man through all the flights Of thought, and time, and thousandfold creation's play.

If you are not the lead sled dog, the world looks pretty much the same every day.

Feast of Justin, Martyr at Rome, c.165 Commemoration of Angela de'Merici, Founder of the Institute of St. Ursula, 1540 To make the improving of our own character our central aim is hardly the highest kind of goodness. True goodness forgets itself and goes out to do the right thing for no other reason than that it is right.

The women of this Nation still retain the liberty to control their destinies. But the signs are evident and very ominous, and a chill wind blows.

Music is a higher revelation than philosophy.

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.

It may indeed prove to be far the most difficult and not the least important task for human reason rationally to comprehend its own limitations. It is essential for the growth of reason that as individuals we should bow to forces and obey principles which we cannot hope fully to understand, yet on which the advance and even the preservation of civilization depend.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Never a fishermen need there be If fishes could hear as well as see.

Had I been present at the creation of the world I would have proposed some improvements.

We may not be what we want to be, but thank God we are not what we used to be.

Nothing proceeds from nothingness, as also nothing passes away into non-existence.

Precious is the parrot who is trained by a clean tongue.

Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate.

Every man's ability may be strengthened or increased by culture.

Character is what you know you are, not what others think you have.

To banish cares, scare away sorrow and soothe pain is the business of the poet and singer.

Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

You own a dog; you feed a cat.