The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained…

The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.

Sourced

The Ladder of St. Augustine, st. 10

Other Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Quotes

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. - View Quote Details on We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing,…
This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. - View Quote Details on This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the…
No one is so accursed by fate,
No one so utterly desolate,
But some heart, though unknown,
Responds unto his own. - View Quote Details on No one is so accursed by fate,
No one so utterly…
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
“Life is but an empty dream!”
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem. - View Quote Details on Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
“Life is but an empty…
Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day. - View Quote Details on Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That…
The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, ‘mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior! - View Quote Details on The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine…
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time. - View Quote Details on Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our…
Build me straight, O worthy Master!
Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel,
That shall laugh at all disaster,
And with wave and whirlwind wrestle! - View Quote Details on Build me straight, O worthy Master!
Stanch and strong, a goodly…
And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of a nation was riding that night. - View Quote Details on And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of…
I heard the trailing garments of the Night
Sweep through her marble halls!
I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light
From the celestial walls! - View Quote Details on I heard the trailing garments of the Night
Sweep through her…