Edgar Guest Quotes & Sayings

Courage must come from the soul within; the man must furnish the will to win. So figure it out for yourself, my lad. You were born with all that the great have had. — Edgar Guest

No one is beat till he quits, no one is through till he stops. No matter how hard failure hits, no matter how often he drops, a fellow's not down till he lies in the dust and refuses to rise. — Edgar Guest

All the world loves a lover, but how it does laugh at his love letters. — Edgar Guest

I'll obey them in the winter when the doctors say to me I must give up ham and spinach, and obedient I'll be. To relieve my indigestion in December they can try, But there's none of them can stop me when it's time for cherry pie. — Edgar Guest

The things are mighty few on earth that wishes can attain. Whate'er we want of any worth, we've got to work to gain. — Edgar Guest

Children ... they string our joys, like jewels bright, upon the thread of years. — Edgar Guest

Now seeds are just dimes to the man in the store And the dimes are the things that he needs, And I've been to buy them in seasons before But have thought of them merely as seeds; But it flashed through my mind as I took them this time, "You purchased a miracle here for a dime." — Edgar Guest

I want to be able, as days go by, always to look myself straight in the eye. — Edgar Guest

A feller's glad to be a friend, Out fishin'. A helpin' hand he'll always lend, Out fishin' The brotherhood of rod and line An' sky an' stream is always fine; Men come real close to God's design, Out fishin'. A feller isn't plotting schemes, Out fishin'. He's only busy with his dreams, Out fishin' His livery is a coat of tan; His creed, to do the best he can; A feller's always mostly man Out fishin'. — Edgar Guest

I take simple everyday things that happen to me and I figure it happens to a lot of other people and I make simple rhymes out of them. — Edgar Guest

I take the family shopping round. The markets of the world. — Edgar Guest

Along a stream that raced and ran
Through tangled trees and over stones,
That long had heard the pipes o' Pan
And shared the joys that nature owns,
I met a fellow fisherman,
Who greeted me in cheerful tones.
...
Foes think the bad in him they've guessed
And prate about the wrong they scan;
Friends that have seen him at his best
Believe they know his every plan;
I know him better than the rest,
I know him as a fisherman. — Edgar Guest

If you never take a chance, you will never be defeated - but you will never accomplish anything either. — Edgar Guest

Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear — Edgar Guest

Tomorrow
there's no day so fair, It knows no sorrow; A day that banishes despair, Joy rules tomorrow. — Edgar Guest

Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore at the rim of a far flung sky. — Edgar Guest

Be a friend. You don't need glory. Friendship is a simple story. — Edgar Guest

Don't give up, what've you do; eyes front, head high to the finish. See it through! — Edgar Guest

Who does his task from day to day and meets whatever comes his way, Believing God has willed it so, has found real greatness here below. Who guards his post, no matter where, believing God must need him there, Although but lowly toil it be, has risen to nobility. For great and low there's just one test, 'tis that each man shall do his best, Who works with all the strength he can, shall never die in debt to man. — Edgar Guest

Stick to the fight whenyoure hardest hit — Edgar Guest

You ought to be true for the sake of the folks who think you are true. You never should stoop to a deed that your folks think you would not do. If you are false to yourself, be the blemish but small, you have injured your folks; you have been false to them all. — Edgar Guest

The world is no longer closed to us in the way it was in the past - present generations have unparalleled access to pretty much all corners of the globe. — Edgar Guest

Somebody scoffed, Oh, you'll never to that - At least no one ever has done it; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew, he'd begun it. — Edgar Guest

The things that haven't been done before, Are the tasks worthwhile today; Are you one of the flock that follows, or Are you one that shall lead the way? Are you one of the timid souls that quail At the jeers of a doubting crew, Or dare you, whether you win or fail, Strike out for a goal that's new? — Edgar Guest

Every thought and every act were to keep this home in tact. — Edgar Guest

There's nothing that builds up a toil-weary soul
Like a day on a stream,
Back on the banks of the old fishing hole
Where a fellow can dream.
There's nothing so good for a man as to flee
From the city and lie
Full length in the shade of a whispering tree
And gaze at the sky.
...
It is good for the world that men hunger to go
To the banks of a stream,
And weary of sham and of pomp and of show
They have somewhere to dream.
For this life would be dreary and sordid and base
Did they not now and then
Seek refreshment and calm in God's wide, open space
And come back to be men. — Edgar Guest

A happy New Year! Grant that I May bring no tear to any eye When this New Year in time shall end Let it be said I've played the friend, Have lived and loved and labored here, And made of it a happy year. — Edgar Guest

You when the storm is raging - how do you face despair? It is you that the world discovers, whatever the clothes you wear. — Edgar Guest

The Making of Friends Life is sweet because of the friends we have made And the things which in common we share; We want to live on, not because of ourselves, But because of the ones who would care. It's living and doing for somebody else On that all of life's splendor depends, And the joy of it all, when we count it all up, Is found in the making of friends ... — Edgar Guest

Spring's greatest joy beyond a doubt is when it brings the children out. — Edgar Guest

The lectures you deliver
may be wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do.
I may not understand
the high advise you like to give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live. — Edgar Guest

The best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds. — Edgar Guest

Love has the patience to endure the fault it sees but cannot cure. — Edgar Guest

The happy man is he who turns his soul Unto the light of joys that he can find; And pays each day its just demand of toll, But shuts the future troubles from his mind. — Edgar Guest

Life is like a cocktail, made up for the most part of sweet things, and tinged with a dash of bitters. We must drain it to the dregs to get at the cherry, just as we must live a full and rounded life to know all its pleasures. — Edgar Guest

Let me be a little kinder, Let me be a little blinder to the faults of those around me. — Edgar Guest

But keep on working and hoping still. For in spite of the grumblers who stand about, somehow, it seems, all things work out. — Edgar Guest

Oh, you'll not be any poorer if you smile along your way. And your lot will not be harder for the kindly things you say. Don't imagine you are wasting time for others that you spend. You can rise to wealth and glory and still pause to be a friend. — Edgar Guest

There is an education of the mind
Which all require and parents only start.
But there is training of a nobler kind
And that's the education of the heart.
Lessons that are most difficult to give
Are Faith and Courage and the way to live. — Edgar Guest

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs. — Edgar Guest

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. — Edgar Guest

Lord, this humble house we'd keep Sweet with play and calm with sleep. Help us so that we may give Beauty to the lives we live. Let Thy love and let Thy grace Shine upon our dwelling place. — Edgar Guest

The proof of a man is the danger test, It shows him up at his worst, or his best. — Edgar Guest

But here in the struggle for fame and pelf
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know
That I'm bluster and buff and empty show. — Edgar Guest

So long as men shall be on earth, there will be tasks for them to do. Some way for them to show their worth. Each day shall bring its problems new. And men shall dream of mightier deeds than ever have been done before. There always shall be human needs for men to work and struggle for. — Edgar Guest

Away from the tumult of motor and mill I want to be care-free; I want to be still! I'm weary of doing things; weary of words I want to be one with the blossoms and birds. — Edgar Guest

When you're up against a trouble, meet it squarely, face to face. Lift your chin and set your shoulders, plant your feet and take a brace. When it's vain to try to dodge it, do the best that you can do. You may fail, but you may conquer. See it through! — Edgar Guest

You are the person who has to decide. Whether you'll do it or toss it aside; You are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you'll lead or will linger behind. Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. Or just be contented to stay where you are. — Edgar Guest