When friends are at your hearthside met,
Sweet courtesy has done its most
If you have made read more

When friends are at your hearthside met,
Sweet courtesy has done its most
If you have made each guest forget
That he himself is not the host.

Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even though you wish they were

Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even though you wish they were

I am your host.
With robber's hands in my hospitable favors
You should not ruffle thus.

I am your host.
With robber's hands in my hospitable favors
You should not ruffle thus.

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men;
that I might leave my people, and read more

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men;
that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all
adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

Ah me, why did they build my house by the road to the market
town?

Ah me, why did they build my house by the road to the market
town?

No one can be so welcome a guest that he will not become an
annoyance when he has stayed read more

No one can be so welcome a guest that he will not become an
annoyance when he has stayed three continuous days in a friend's
house.
[Lat., Hospes nullus tam in amici hospitium diverti potest,
Quin ubi triduum continuum fuerit jam odiosus siet.]

The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride;
The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside;
read more

The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride;
The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside;
The doorband strong enough from robbers to defend;
This door will open at a touch to welcome every friend.

For 't is always fair weather
When good fellows get together
With a stein on the table read more

For 't is always fair weather
When good fellows get together
With a stein on the table and a good song ringing clear.

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like read more

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran,--
But let me live by the side of the road,
And be a friend to man.