I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.

I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

Westward the star of empire takes its way.

Westward the star of empire takes its way.

All rising to great place is by a winding stair.

All rising to great place is by a winding stair.

What is art
But life upon the larger scale, the higher,
When, graduating up in a spiral read more

What is art
But life upon the larger scale, the higher,
When, graduating up in a spiral line
Of still expanding and ascending gyres,
It pushed toward the intense significance
Of all things, hungry for the Infinite?
Art's life--and where we live, we suffer and toil.

Finds progress, man's distinctive mark alone,
Not God's, and not the beast's;
God is, they are,
read more

Finds progress, man's distinctive mark alone,
Not God's, and not the beast's;
God is, they are,
Man partly is, and wholly hopes to be.

Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.

Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.

I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaining at the bottom simply by looking at read more

I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaining at the bottom simply by looking at the men at the top.

Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first Acts already past,
A fifth shall read more

Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first Acts already past,
A fifth shall close the Drama with the day;
Time's noblest offspring is the last.