The best things in life are nearest Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
quote by Robert Louis Stephenson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Our Daily Bread
"Give me my daily bread.
It seems so odd,
When all is done and said,
This plea to God.
To pray for cake might be
The thing to do;
But bread, it seems to me,
Is just our due.
"Give me my daily toil,"
I ought to say -
(If from life's cursed coil
I'd time to pray.)
Give me my daily sweat,
My body sore,
So that bread I may get
To toil for more.
"Give me my daily breath,"
Through half a sob,
Until untimely death
Shall end my job.
A crust for my award,
I cry in dread:
"Grant unto me. Oh Lord,
My daily bread!"
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Life goes on and on and on
Life goes on and on and on
Not all things of life may live
Towards heaven and hell there souls they must give
There are many things we have killed
There is never enough said
And yet the grain of life is still milled
And is still made into our lords daily bread
And the baby’s that where born that day
They will still cry for the mother’s attention
The parents will complain all they may
And yet to family and friends it’s all they will mention
There will always be those that are young
There will always be those of the old
Both have seen many things
But towards the world they eyes will never grow cold
And yet all the time life goes on
No one is strong enough to change it
Because the world is held together by love
And that love is true to one little bit
poem by Daniel Laurence
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
When we can say "no" not only to things that are wrong and sinful, but also to things pleasant, profitable, and good which would hinder and clog our grand duties and our chief work, we shall understand more fully what life is worth, and how to make the most of it.
quote by Charles A. Stoddard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy! | In Romanian
Shade Of Truth
Each day begins with the shade
With the shade that provides aid
Aid like wonders, humor and beauty
That reminds us all of our duties
It also tells us the greatness of truth
Truth like life's sorrows and ruth
Sorrows and ruth that are the part
Of our daily life inside the heart
So try to totally enjoy it
Whatever life is showing bit by bit
And try to be happy in life
Because that's the best way to survive.
poem by Seema Chowdhury
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Nobody performs her or his duties. Governments do not, because they do not know, they are not able or they do not wish, or because they are not permitted by those who effectively govern the world: The multinational and pluricontinental companies whose power — absolutely non-democratic — reduce to next to nothing what is left of the ideal of democracy. We citizens are not fulfilling our duties either. Let us think that no human rights will exist without symmetry of the duties that correspond to them. It is not to be expected that governments in the next 50 years will do it. Let us common citizens therefore speak up. With the same vehemence as when we demanded our rights, let us demand responsibility over our duties. Perhaps the world could turn a little better.
quote by Jose Saramago
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
Days Whittled Away
Small becomes big, while huge is little, this as we mentally whittle,
Sorting many things in our mind, looking forward and also behind;
Pondering things, near and far, not content with things as they are,
Thinking beyond the here and now, we can slide into why and how.
Looking beyond all that we can see, thinking about what could be,
With our mind, overriding our heart, our flesh begins doing its part,
As temptations comes into play, trying to direct these feet of clay,
To stray from God’s said purpose, all provided by The Lord Jesus.
Some things in life may seem small, but, perception is not over all,
As personal wants cloud the view, of this life given to me and you;
While in our minds we may scheme; what we usually call our dream,
Almost appearing to be discontent, with the purpose, we were sent.
We then proceed, to whittle away, at that purpose, from day to day,
When we start wrestling in our mind, with daily issues of every kind,
As our eyes are taken off The Lord, His purpose, for us, is ignored.
Clouding, all that matters, in this life, as we stray from Jesus Christ.
But, God’s purpose doesn’t change, for our Lord remains the same,
Working through the life of everyone, who’s been called by His Son,
And so daily our focus needs to be, on Christ and things of Eternity,
As we live here, one day at a time, through a power which is sublime.
(Copyright ©08/2010)
For no phase of life, whether public or private, whether in business or in the home, whether one is working on what concerns oneself alone or dealing with another, can be without its moral duty; on the discharge of such duties depends all that is morally right, and on their neglect all that is morally wrong in life.
Lifes Real
*There are so many things in life you face
There are many things in life that brings you down
But, life’s short, sometimes you have to keep going and just smile
Try not staying down to long
Try to put it aside and move on
You can’t live your life stressing on how to deal with things
Life’s much more than that
Sometimes it’s thinking things through
And deal with the important things first
And worry about the other things later
I know you battle with you brain
And your thoughts you chase
I know dealing with feelings and stress is one big debate
*Life’s has a lot of hard work
Life has a lot of headaches
Life has a lot of drama
But believe it or not stressing not the way to deal with things
Life has a way to put you down
And makes you feel you’re beneath it
But, you have to put yourself on top
*Life may play tricks on your mind
That you start to go crazy
Or just plain out of your mind
But believe it or not
There’s always a way to shine
*Life’s real, that I understand
Life’s real, Life you have to EXCEPT
Life you can’t STRESS
Life you have to live at your BEST
Life also you must live to the FULLEST
poem by Chaymeriyia Moncrief
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Jesus, Thou Divine Companion
Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
By Thy lowly human birth
Thou hast come to join the workers,
Burden bearers of the earth.
Thou, the Carpenter of Nazareth,
Toiling for Thy daily food,
By Thy patience and Thy courage,
Thou hast taught us toil is good.
They who tread the path of labor
Follow where Thy feet have trod;
They who work without complaining
Do the holy will of God.
Thou, the Peace that passeth knowledge,
Dwellest in the daily strife;
Thou, the Bread of heaven, broken
In the sacrament of life.
Every task, however simple,
Sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of love and kindness
Done to man is done to Thee.
Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
Help us all to do our best;
Bless in our daily labor,
Lead us to the Sabbath rest.
poem by Henry Van Dyke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
It is not the straining for great things that is most effective; it is the doing the little things, the common duties, a little better and better.
quote by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Daily I Crucify Him
Daily I crucify Him while I dwell in sin,
while I stumble forth in life;
daily a new life for me He does begin
even when I fall down in strive
and from every sin, every iniquity
daily He sets me free.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Have Seen Continents Written On Faces
I have seen continents written on faces
with eyes full of pain, postures in a weathered mien
and at a number of places
images went to my brain, of some people keen
with their loving embraces
while others living in a world that had been,
of which only memories remain.
It is as life changes from its summer form,
changes with ageing
while people from youth through adulthood transform
and if daily some have a struggle that is waging,
a kind of brewing silent storm,
that lashes against the remainders of summer and spring
while daily they have duties and a myriad of tasks to perform.
When through ageing and destiny
people have to live alone,
or it may be by their iniquity
that a loved one is forever gone,
then there is sadness that I sometimes see
while they struggle to live on and on
and from life and living some wish to be free.
Yet others age well
as if they are totally exempt
from life’s spell,
while younger women still do them tempt,
it’s if they did not experience the same kind of hell
and to ageing, illness and death have contempt
while they still in their mansions do dwell.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Deadline
I see that I am living a dead life
and the daily life
leaves no impression on me,
and before I know I am turned into a stick,
already fossilized
and life passes me
while I do not get involved with anything.
Too many times
I had daily contact with death
and now I die from life
and every day do the same things,
the same work,
and are caught immovable like an idiot.
The same things
I write over and over
of Johnnie loosing Sally,
of love that charms,
or war that still resounds in me
and on our hands
the blood, the damned blood
and I feel at times as if the Lord doesn’t hear.
I try to live right,
to respect others,
to honour the Lord
and my poems stay the same
words of somebody surviving
and I still am able to adore
and what the church prohibits feels so right and true
while life hits me back
past the beginning.
I still feel, weep and laugh
and sometimes sing in the shower
as if nothing
is wrong with life
and I keep dreaming,
set myself to win
and to stay alive
while the deadline
slowly comes nearer to me
where my heart will beat its last stroke
before it will stop eternally.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Knowing Not what’s Ahead
I don’t know what lies ahead, so I look to my Savior instead,
The One Who bore a cross for me, to die a death at Calvary,
He, Who did that for me friend, knows how my path will end,
And so I’ll fix my eyes on Him, as He gives me peace within.
On every path that we trod, we must trust our Lord and God,
For on the path He has us go, our Lord’s desires shall show,
Where that path will end for us, as we follow our Lord Jesus.
And what the outcome will be, within the plan we cannot see.
The Plan of God we must embrace, while living out our days,
As children formed of but dust, an Eternal God we can trust,
For our Lord makes no mistake, on any path He has us take,
As all things work out for good, in His ways not understood.
Whether my path is bright or dim, I must always trust in Him,
He, Who knitted me in the womb, has set up, for me a room,
In His Father’s Home above, where Christ leads by His Love,
Love, He guides me in each day, even upon the darkest way.
Even if I choose my path in life, my way’s directed by Christ,
And upon every path taken, by my Lord I am never forsaken,
Who continues daily leading me, from this earth into Eternity,
Where all things will fall in place, when I see my Savior’s face.
(07/2011)
Sonnet: The Man of Wisdom!
Most labor for immediate good returns;
Some work all life to pull off great a feat;
For benefits and earthly gains, heart yearns;
We always want success to come and greet!
The man of wisdom does not wish for these;
He does his duties all whole-heartedly;
He only wants at mind and heart some peace;
He prays to God all life repeatedly!
All earthly things are transient, worthless;
Our stay on earth prepares our soul for God;
Our needs of life God gives, nevertheless;
This human life’s most precious gift from Lord!
God’s blessings give anyone good awards;
God-willingly anyone gets rewards.
7-2-2006
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I, A Fool
I’m amazed, if not crazed, how days do slip away.
Nights and mornings trade places before I’ve had my say.
I busy myself with daily duties and the miniscule.
The torrid tasks allow no time to ask if I’m a fool.
A fool who falls for exigencies and rarely ever sees,
Afforded benefits wrought from passing opportunities.
A fool whose sole concern is gaining wealth and power,
Through any ways in countless days to the final hour.
A fool who places things ahead of people every time,
With no revulsion to convulsions if they generate a dime.
A fool who finally falls victim to life’s golden rule
That life speeds by and without love all the rest is cruel.
poem by Gregory Huyette
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Life Or Death?
Every day we live, we always face death
We get closer to it, every time we take a breath
Life is special but death brings peace
Life brings reality and things you believe
Death is hard for everyone around
Death is quiet, no more bad sounds
Life is also hard, all the things we go through
Life can never be easy, no matter what you do
Death is sad, for those who cry
Death is meaningful, for those who die
Life is a work of art, it's nice to look
Life is full of teachings, like an open book
Death is the new life, might as well be dead
Death is a lot more, for what's up ahead
Life brings new things, always something new
Life brings surprises, something out the blue
Death is scary, nothing we want to see
Death is negative, a place we don't want to be
Life is full of love, with the ones close to you
Life is full of money, for those who sue
Death is empty, nothing compared to this
Death is a lot of things, too long of a list
But life is everything; don't wait till there's nothing left
Death can wait, so don't waste your last breath
So just pick your choice, which one? Life or death?
poem by Triauna Hall
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Finality
A very short time we are given, to understand the purpose of living,
Our life down here upon the earth; the time between death and birth.
This time is short for you and me, compared to that time of eternity,
A time that we all will enter friend, as life on earth comes to an end.
Men live dealing with life’s reality, not thinking much of life’s finality,
Being caught up in a daily routine, is in many lives a common scene.
Dealing with what comes down the road, always under a heavy load,
Always dealing with here and now, while simply getting by somehow.
Within the brevity of such a life, weighed down with trouble and strife,
We get caught in the daily grind, which takes over our heart and mind,
With no thought and or no time, to think of Heaven or things sublime,
Or even thoughts of what could be, up in that place they call Eternity.
And even if you have thoughts of, God and Heaven and things above,
Friend, do you really understand, the Truth of God’s Sovereign Hand?
And how everything is set in place, for us to just accept God’s Grace.
A Grace that grants you eternal life, through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
As everything that must be done, has been completed by God’s Son,
And all you must do is to believe, then everlasting life you will receive.
For there is no intermediate place, to barter with God regarding Grace,
While you’re here, in this time, you must give Him your heart and mind.
Finality for believers then becomes, an eternity ahead with God’s Son,
Though life may be short down here, Eternity, you’ll enter with no fear.
But ignoring His Grace does have cost, as you’ll remain eternally lost,
Then finality for you my friend, will be an empty darkness with no end.
(Copyright ©10/2007)
An Incident
’Twas on a sunny summer day
I trod a mighty city’s street,
And when I started on my way
My heart was full of fancies sweet;
But soon, as nothing could be seen,
But countenances sharp and keen,
Nought heard or seen around but told
Of something bought or something sold,
And none that seemed to think or care
That any save himself was there,
Full soon my heart began to sink
With a strange shame and inward pain,
For I was sad within to think
Of this absorbing love of gain,
And various thoughts my bosom tost;
When suddenly my path there crossed,
Locked hand in hand with one another,
A little maiden and her brother
A little maiden, and she wore
Around her waist a pinafore.
And hand in hand along the street
This pretty pair did softly go,
And as they went, their little feet
Moved in short even steps and slow
It was a sight to see and bless,
That little sister’s tenderness;
One hand a tidy basket bore
Of flowers and fruit a chosen store,
Such as kind friends oft send to others
And one was fastened in her brother’s.
It was a voice of meaning sweet,
And spake amid that scene of strife
Of home and homely duties meet,
And charities of daily life;
And often, should my spirit fail,
And under cold strange glances quail,
’Mid busy shops and busier throng,
That speed upon their ways along
The thick and crowded thoroughfare,
I’ll call to mind that little pair.
poem by Arthur Hugh Clough (1836)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
Szymborska 's Yearns
'Poets yearn, of course, to be published, read, and understood, but they do little, if anything, to set themselves above the common herd and the daily grind.'
i do not have
the wish anymore
to be understood
by you or anybody
i belong to the
common things
you cannot see
me in the herd
i am in my
daily endeavors
unknown to you
i still write without
any wish that you
recognize my
voice or feel the
longings of my
hands or see the
scars in my heart
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!