James Russell Lowell

It is the privilege of genius that to it life never grows commonplace as to the rest of us.

It is the privilege of genius that to it life never grows commonplace as to the rest of us.

Greatly begin! Though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime--
Not failure, but low read more

Greatly begin! Though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime--
Not failure, but low aim is crime.

So we're all right, an' I, for one,
Don't think our cause'll lose in vally
By rammin' read more

So we're all right, an' I, for one,
Don't think our cause'll lose in vally
By rammin' Scriptur' in our gun,
An' gittin' Natur' for an ally.

For there's nothing we read of in torture's inventions,
Like a well-meaning dunce, with the best of intentions.

For there's nothing we read of in torture's inventions,
Like a well-meaning dunce, with the best of intentions.

With bated breath we offer wicked vows.

With bated breath we offer wicked vows.