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It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat".

quote by Theodore Roosevelt
Added by Lucian Velea
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It Might Have Been

We will be what we could be. Do not say,
'It might have been, had not this, or that, or this.'
No fate can keep us from the chosen way;
He only might who is.

We will do what we could do. Do not dream
Chance leaves a hero, all uncrowned to grieve.
I hold, all men are greatly what they seem;
He does, who could achieve.

We will climb where we could climb. Tell me not
Of adverse storms that kept thee from the height.
What eagle ever missed the peak he sought?
He always climbs who might.

I do not like the phrase 'It might have been!'
It lacks force, and life's best truths perverts:
For I believe we have, and reach, and win,
Whatever our deserts.

poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Pandora II

though many people prefer myth. No, after Hope, Empathy came out of the basket. Pretty as was Hope, Empathy made her look like Hans Christian Anderson. Othwise, she was completely naked, had a charming voice and complained of nothing but the cold.
'Brrr, it's cold out here', she said, precisely.
Greatly moved, Pandora handed her a tissue to wrap herself in, which she did, but it's perfume gave her a sneezing jag.
'I'm awfully sorry', she said, wiping her nose with a corner of the tissue, 'have you got a pseudophed? '
Pandora didn't.
'My name is Empathy'.
'That's a pretty name', returned Pandora, beginning to get tired of all this hand-shaking. Nevertheless, ...

poem by Morgan Michaels
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Who Defines Meaning In A Poem?

readers impose
meaning on poems
poets especially

more than writers
of other forms
of literature
or journalism
rely on their poems
having slightly

or even greatly
different meanings
to different readers

there is no absolute
interpretation of a poem
but rather levels
and a series
of meanings

[...] Read more

poem by Terence George Craddock
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The best way to avoid abuses is for the populace in general to be scientifically literate, to understand the implications of such investigations. In exchange for freedom of inquiry, scientists are obliged to explain their work. If science is considered a closed priesthood, too difficult and arcane for the average person to understand, the dangers of abuse are greater. But if science is a topic of general interest and concern - if both its delights and its social consequences are discussed regularly and competently in the schools, the press, and at the dinner table - we have greatly improved our prospects for learning how the world really is and for improving both it and us.

quote by Carl Sagan
Added by Catalin Popescu
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Psalm 48

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Mount Zion is the city of the King
When mortal kings gather, they fall down on their face
They lift up their voice to HIm and sing

For God is the God, the King of all the earth
All earthly kings are puny in His sight
And as far as the east stretched from the west
He is God over every day and night

There is a coming city, the city of God
The new Jerusalem that waits on high
It waits upon the martyrs and the coming King
And every eye shall see it in the sky

The promise fulfilled, the city come down
The day of God's judgment is at hand
We'll wait upon the Lord and His promises
On Christ the solid Rock we all shall stand

poem by Frank McEleny
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A Perfect Woman Nobly Planned

(The man who wants the perfect wife should marry a
'stock-size.' She comes cheaper.-_London Chronicle_.)

Ah, Myrtilla, woe and dear me!
Lackadaydee and alas!
What is this, I greatly fear me,
That has come to pass?

Craving, as I do, perfection,
Loathing anything like flaws,
I must raise a slight objection
To your building laws.

You are five one-and-a-quarter,
And your girth is thirty-three-
Myrtie, you're a little shorter
Than you ought to be.

It is far from my intentions
Your proportions to describe,

[...] Read more

poem by Franklin P. Adams
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We Negotiate

Electric as the wind in sizzling mode,
The sweat of the train is at best and bliss;
I cleanly arrive supported by statesmen,
The friendly haste is suspense,
These wars are fought from the ground.

Let discussion be swift in speed and scale,
After destination is the result of suspense,
We are clever as the weasel at news and sorts,
Our trains deplore the destinations of conversations.

My wind has forced my arrival,
The chief accuses the abusers,
The debate has turned into a riot
Of single gongs, awful wrongful talk.

Electric is the wind from house of importance,
The house of the offices and officialdom.
We greatly offend on solid words
The retraction and invasion of words.

poem by Naveed Akram
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At a High Ceremony

Not the proudest damsel here
Looks so well as doth my dear.
All the borrowed light of dress
Outshining not her loveliness,

A loveliness not born of art,
But growing outwards from her heart,
Illuminating all her face,
And filling all her form with grace.

Said I, of dress the borrowed light
Could rival not her beauty bright?
Yet, looking round, `tis truth to tell,
No damsel here is dressed so well.

Only in them the dress one sees,
Because more greatly it doth please
Than any other charm that's theirs,
Than all their manners, all their airs.

[...] Read more

poem by Robert Fuller Murray
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It is not the critic that counts not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or the doer of deeds could have them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the Arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming but he who does actually strive to do the deed who knows the great devotion who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls, who know neither victory nor defeat.

quote by Theodore Roosevelt
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!