John Godfrey Saxe Quotes
d. 1887 United States
John Godfrey Saxe (2 June 1816 – 31 March 1887) was an American poet.
- United States
- 19th-century poets
- Poets
Random John Godfrey Saxe quote
35 quotes
Don't use strong drink, — pray let me advise, —
It 's bad for the stomach, and ruins the eyes
What Lowely meant she didn't know
For she always avoided "everything low,"
I asked of Echo 't other day
(Whose words are few and often funny),
What to a novice she could say
Of courtship, love, and matrimony.
Quoth Echo, plainly, — "Matter-o'-money."
In vain I speak of urgent tasks;
In vain I scowl and pout;
A frown is no extinguisher —
It does not put him out!
Again I hear the creaking step! —
He's rapping at the door! —
Too well I know the boding sound
That ushers in a bore.
A youth would marry a maiden,
For fair and fond was she;
But their sires disputed about the Mass,
And so it might not be.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
In battle or business, whatever the game,
In law or in love, it is ever the same;
In the struggle for power, or the scramble for pelf,
Let this be your motto, — Rely on yourself!
For, whether the prize be a ribbon or throne,
The victor is he who can go it alone!
The Masquerade and Other Poems (1866)
It was six men of Hindustan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind)
That each by observation
Might satisfy the mind.
But blast the man, with curses loud and deep,
Whate'er the rascal's name, or age, or station,
Who first invented, and went round advising,
That artificial cut-off, — Early Rising!
Say, what is life? 'Tis to be born,
A helpless Babe, to greet the light
With a sharp wail, as if the morn
Foretold a cloudy noon and night;
To weep, to sleep, and weep again,
With sunny smiles between; and then?
I'm growing fonder of my staff;
I'm growing dimmer in the eyes;
I'm growing fainter in my laugh;
I'm growing deeper in my sighs;
I'm growing careless of my dress;
I'm growing frugal of my gold;
I'm growing wise; I'm growing — yes, —
I'm growing old!
Yes; bless the man who first invented sleep
(I really can't avoid the iteration):
But blast the man with curses loud and deep,
Whate'er the rascal's name or age or station,
Who first invented, and went round advertising,
That artificial cut-off—Early Rising.
The Poet's License! — 't is the right,
Within the rule of duty,
To look on all delightful things
Throughout the world of beauty. To gaze with rapture at the stars
That in the skies are glowing;
To see the gems of perfect dye
That in the woods are growing, —
And more than sage astronomer,
And more than learned florist,
To read the glorious homilies
Of Firmament and Forest.
The Masquerade and Other Poems (1866)
I will touch
My mouth unto the leaves, caressingly;
And so wilt thou. Thus, from these lips of mine
My message will go kissingly to thine,
With more than Fancy's load of luxury,
And prove a true love-letter.