Infinite striving to be the best is man's duty, it is it's own reward. Everything else is in God's hands.

Infinite striving to be the best is man's duty, it is it's own reward. Everything else is in God's hands.

Straight is the line of duty;
Curved is the line of beauty;
Follow the straight line, thou read more

Straight is the line of duty;
Curved is the line of beauty;
Follow the straight line, thou shalt see
The curved line ever follow thee.

It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, read more

It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.

But what is your duty? What the day demands.
[Ger., Was aber ist deine Pflicht? Die Forderung des Tages.]

But what is your duty? What the day demands.
[Ger., Was aber ist deine Pflicht? Die Forderung des Tages.]

I slept and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty:--
Was read more

I slept and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty:--
Was thy dream then a shadowy lie?

Take up the White Man's burden.

Take up the White Man's burden.

My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.

My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.

Alas! when duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.

Alas! when duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.

So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man.
When Duty whispers low, read more

So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man.
When Duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies, I can.