Charles Godfrey Leland Quotes & Sayings

Life will be lengthened while growing, for
Thought is the measure of life. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Time fleeth on,
Youth soon is gone,
Naught earthly may abide;
Life seemeth fast,
But may not last
It runs as runs the time. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Love leads to present rapture,-then to pain;
But all through Love in time is healed again. — Charles Godfrey Leland

What is a kiss? Alacke! at worst,
A single Dropp to quenche a Thirst,
Tho' oft it prooves, in happie Hour,
The first swete Dropp of our long Showre. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Up rose the wild old winter-king, And shook his beard of snow; I hear the first young hard-bell ring, 'Tis time for me to go! Northward o'er the icy rocks, Northward o'er the sea, My daughter comes with sunny locks: This land's too warm for me! — Charles Godfrey Leland

Sweet music! sacred tongue of God. — Charles Godfrey Leland

If all the world must see the world
As the world the world hath seen,
Then it were better for the world
That the world have never been. — Charles Godfrey Leland

The brave deserve the lovely - every woman may be won. — Charles Godfrey Leland

It was the noise Of ancient trees falling while all was still Before the storm, in the long interval Between the gathering clouds and that light breeze Which Germans call the Wind's bride. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Jas in the Arab language is despair, And Min the darkest meaning of a lie. Thus cried the Jessamine among the flowers, How justly doth a lie Draw on its head despair! Among the fragrant spirits of the bowers The boldest and the strongest still was I. Although so fair, Therefore from Heaven A stronger perfume unto me was given Than any blossom of the summer hours. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Thought is the measure of life. — Charles Godfrey Leland

When in God thou believest, near God thou wilt certainly be. — Charles Godfrey Leland

AS their peculiar perfume is the chief association with spices, so sorcery is allied in every memory to gypsies. And as it has not escaped many poets that there is something more strangely sweet and mysterious in the scent of cloves than in that of flowers, so the attribute of inherited magic power adds to the romance of these picturesque wanderers. Both the spices and the Romany come from the far East - the fatherland of divination and enchantment. The latter have been traced with tolerable accuracy, If we admit their affinity with the Indian Dom and Domar, back to the p. 2 threshold of history, or well-nigh into prehistoric times, and in all ages they, or their women, have been engaged, as if by elvish instinct, in selling enchant. merits, peddling prophecies and palmistry, and dealing with the devil generally ill a small retail way. As it was of old so it is to-day - Ki shan i Romani - Adoi san' i chov'hani. Wherever gypsies go, There the witches are, we know. — Charles Godfrey Leland

To Paradise, the Arabs say, Satan could never find the way Until the peacock led him in. — Charles Godfrey Leland

Among the flowers no perfume is like mine; That which is best in me comes from within. So those in this world who would rise and shine Should seek internal excellence to win. And though 'tis true that falsehood and despair Meet in my name, yet bear it still in mind That where they meet they perish. All is fair When they are gone and nought remains behind. — Charles Godfrey Leland

They saw a Dream of Loveliness descending from the train. — Charles Godfrey Leland

But, as old Swedish legends say, Of all the birds upon that day, The swallow felt the deepest grief, And longed to give her Lord relief, And chirped when any near would come. Hugswala swala swal honom! Meaning, as they who tell it deem, Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him! — Charles Godfrey Leland

The Lord of Learning who upraised mankind from being silent brutes to singing men. — Charles Godfrey Leland