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
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Related quotes
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
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Two Things
Two things that come and go—
Happiness and Sadness
Two things that will never leave us—
Fame and Stigma
Two things that will not come back—
Prestige and Life
Two things that come on their own—
Youth and Age
Two things that follow us—
Virtue and Sin
Two things that cannot be contained—
Grief and Desire
Two things that cannot be avoided—
Hunger and Thirst
Two things that bring about a downfall—
Anger and Jealously
Two things that are common to all—
Birth and Death.
poem by Chandra Thiagarajan
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Art is the beautiful way of doing things. Science is the effective way of doing things. Business is the economic way of doing things.
quote by Elbert Hubbard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.
quote by Stephen Covey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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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
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Things Are Getting Better
Well I worked for a week and I got no pay.
(things getting better.)
Well my babys coming back home to stay
(things getting better.)
Well shes coming back home, but I havent got a dime
(things getting better.)
But Ive got my love to keep me fine[? ].
(things getting better.)
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Well since my babys been away,
(things getting better.)
Well things got worse from day to day.
(things getting better.)
Well now my babys come back to me.
(things getting better.)
Yeah, itll get better, wait and see.
(things getting better.)
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Well I pawned my watch and I sold my car.
(things getting better.)
The money Ive got wouldnt get me far.
(things getting better.)
But I dont mind now that youve packed.
(things getting better.)
Its a fact, that
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
Oh-oh
Things getting better.
Things getting better.
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I must be informed, that one of my great duties was, to obey the priests in all things; and this I soon learnt, to my utter astonishment and horror, was to live in the practice of criminal intercourse with them.
quote by Maria Monk
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort.
quote by Humphry Davy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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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
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Truth and Lie
Knowing the truth means
Knowing things as they really are
And as water is
The mother-womb of all things.
So is the truth
For the human beings
We all need to be rescued
Even sometimes
We lie to ourselves
Straining to feed
The illusion of happiness.
poem by Marieta Maglas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Solace Amongst The Sin
Farewell to the west now
And welcome, to the east
Farewell to the one who raked, the sand beneath my feet
Thank you for the space we shared, and the heart and soul my friend
I will see you through the colours, between the mountains as the sun decends
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Farewell to the west now
My mind is open to the east
To all the new faces, new minds & things to see
I am alone here, and my heart at times it weeps
You will see me through the colours, as the sun sinks in the sea
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
We will share again
We'll share again
Hmmm, hmmm, oh my friend we'll share again
Oh we will share again
song performed by by Xavier Rudd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Solace Amongst The Sin
Farewell to the west now
And welcome, to the east
Farewell to the one who raked, the sand beneath my feet
Thank you for the space we shared, and the heart and soul my friend
I will see you through the colours, between the mountains as the sun decends
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Farewell to the west now
My mind is open to the east
To all the new faces, new minds & things to see
I am alone here, and my heart at times it weeps
You will see me through the colours, as the sun sinks in the sea
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
We will share again
We'll share again
Hmmm, hmmm, oh my friend we'll share again
Oh we will share again
song performed by by Xavier Rudd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Our Small Way
Refrain
Maybe you and I cant do great things
We may not change the world in one day
But we still can change some things today...
In our small way
Empty words are not enough
Where theres hurt well be a crush
When theres thirst well fill each others cup
Because we care we love enough to share
Refrain
Maybe you and I cant do great things
We may not change the world in one day
But we still can change some things today...
In our small way
In despair well be the hope
And the prayer that frees the soul
Well be there to share each lonely road
Because we love, I know
We care enough
Refrain
Maybe you and I cant do great things
We may not change the world in one day
But we still can change some things today...
In our small way
Just a little time is all it takes
What a difference just a smile can make, youll see
Love is all we need
Refrain
Maybe you and I cant do great things
We may not change the world in one day
But we still can change some things today...
In our small way
song performed by by Michael Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In the spirit of Rumi - 50 - One Thing
Oh the pleasure, the happiness,
the delight, the joy, the bliss,
of doing just one thing above all!
When I was a child, I did many things;
that’s right for children – there’s the world,
go play in it; ask, what’s a horizon? but what
lies beyond? and why can’t I see angels
if angels can see me? …
When I was a young man, I did many things;
that’s right for young men – which one will I love?
which one will love me? And when we’ve together found our love,
oh what then? and oh what then?
But now I’m older, there seems less time
for many things; they will look after themselves
without my help… so, what delight
to give oneself to just one thing…
one thing at a time; and then
one thing…
and it seems, it doesn’t matter what;
roses need an expert to collaborate
in dreaming up new beauty from an older stock;
dogs need exercise, and a two-legs to look up to;
grandchildren are born to love grandparents
in a special way..
and, duties done, and hearts served well,
one thing…it might be poetry,
in which to say, look, all this
I’ve received: here’s recognition,
acknowledgement, and gratitude…
and the other things, like sleeping, eating,
become day by day like living in someone else’s poem;
someone else committed to one thing…
and then one day, perhaps,
life’s curtain twitches; and some great being
looks in the window, the very moment you look out;
and ‘one thing’, in the most natural way,
becomes…
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shape Of Things To Come
Magic, logic
The system works, but not for me
Look beyond the nearest moment
And youll see
The shape of things to come
Somewhere deep in the city
I can feel you I know youre here
Baby, Im just a pussy-cat
But not a one that you should fear
One, two, always love you
One, two, move up above you
Two, two, right in the face
Yes sir, no sir, three bags full so
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
Let me get you outta here
Tragic, logic
The system hurts, but not for me
I look beyond the farest moment
And I say
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
Somewhere deep in the system
I can see you but youre not clear
A simple case of error correction
Come on baby, get your ass in gear
One, two, always love you
One, two, move up above you
Two, two, right in the face
Of sir, no sir, three bags full so
The shape of things to come
Let me get your outta here
The shape of things to come
Look into my eyes and Ill make your day
The shape of things to come
Good things, great things, all just same things
The shape of things to come
The shape of things to come
song performed by by Cher
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Angel That You Are.
you are special you are sweet you are everything that is neat and everything that you think you are nothing that is bad just everything that is kind and soft and great and worthy of a great remembrance may your name be echoed into infinity and beyond and still enough kick to bounce to heavens forth and back again your personality is that of two things great and even greater you know how to make one smile when things are great but u know how to make one always feel like they can be better when things are greater like how supermans only weakness is near kryptonite is like how i feel by knowing u are sad and would want to do super things to make u smile and make everything feel whole again good luck and good bless .... i miss you.
poem by Dorian Suchelle
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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All The Things She Gave Me
All the things
All the things she gave me
All the things
All the things she gave me
I wrapped them up
In a big brown box
Tied it with ribbon
Drove to the docks
Checked my time
By the old town clock
All the things...
I saw the watchman
He was blowing into
Cupped hands
As he walked to the car
He said where do you think
Youre drivin to, son?
All good folks are in bed
And a days work is done
I said Im just looking for
Someplace to burn
All the things
All the things that she gave me...
All the things that she gave me
Where do I put them?
Where can I hide them
Where I wont have to see them?
Its dark as hell here
This citys grown cold
The devils in drag
Playing poker with souls
The lots are all empty
The last man is out
The moons made of cheese
And God is a boy scout
When I go to sleep
Ill be dreaming about
All the things...
Then Ill dream about churches
With great tall spires
Cathedrals and candles
Chimneys and choirs
Ill dream about
That place
Where I set fire
All the things
All the things that she...
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sonnet- Life Has Its Risks
Some things of great import, still come to you;
At times, in ways inopportune, you think;
Life is so challenging and risky too;
We feel not thirsty, yet, are forced to drink.
When hunger strikes, we hardly find right food;
When sleep o'ertakes, we're unable to rest;
Often we have to do our work off-mood;
All things done prudently turn out the best.
Our common-sense and logic, saves our skins;
A tongue that speaks out magic words is great;
Courage and hope in life, gives us our wins,
And change, we can however sad, our fate.
When troubles come in search of every soul,
Avoiding more should be our primal goal.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Special
I been trying for so long
To get you where I stand
Feel like I been climbing all my life
Everybody told me
I'd never ever get this far
I know I can make it if I try
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
(come to you, you too, to you, do to, be do, you)
Special things come to you
There's no sense in trying to fight it
When I want something so bad
No, it's not as easy as it seems
Simple things are the hardest
Of the things we do for love
And I won't give up cause I'm not just what it means
The special things you dream about
And the special things you're all about
Special things that somehow come to you
And it's the simple things to just believe
And the special things that you want to see
Special things somehow come to you
(come to you, doo doo doo, to you, doo doo doo)
Special things (doo, doo ahh, you doo)
Do do doo, on you, do do doo, to you
Do doo, ahh, do do doo, too
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
The special things you dream about
And the special things you're all about
Special things that somehow come to you
There's the special things that come your way
?I'll be praying? no matter what they say
Special things that somehow come to you
And it's the simple things to just believe
And the special things that you want to see
Special things somehow come to you
song performed by by Vitamin C
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Little Things
Little things mean a lot
Little things mean a lot
When I wanted someone to give me the world
You accepted me and smiled
And let me know that you were my girl
When I wanted fancy things
Gold watches, diamond rings
You gave me your hand
cause only you could understand
Chorus:
Little things mean a lot
Appreciate what you got
If you give all what you have
Its forever well last
Dont sit around and wait for all
The great things in your life (sweetie)
Little things mean
Little things mean
Little things mean a lot
Giving me the best doesnt mean
Giving me happiness
Ill be satisfied with anything that comes close
I dont wanna settle for less but if i
Do I must confess I wont
Take it if its not from your heart
Sometimes we get wrapped up
In all the fancy things but
Dont expect life to be perfect
It dont come with static cling
Chorus
song performed by by Boyz II Men
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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