There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will speak softly, and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.
Theodore Roosevelt in Speech in Chicago (3 April 1903)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Teddy Roosevelt... once said, 'Speak softly and carry a big stick.' Jimmy Carter wants to speak loudly and carry a fly swatter.
quote by Gerald R. Ford
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Speak softly and always carry a big stick; you will go far.
West African proverbs
Submitted by Micheleflowerbomb
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To compel the nation with challenge the traditional American doctrine of freedom of the seas, every man and every ship in the navy is solemnly pledged.
quote by Josephus Daniels
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lullaby
My little one, sleep softly
Among the toys and flowers.
Sleep softly, O my first-born son,
Through all the long dark hours.
And if you waken far away
I shall be wandering too.
If far away you run and play
My heart must follow you.
Sleep softly, O my baby,
And smile down in your sleep.
Here are red rose-buds for your bed—
Smile, and I will not weep.
We made our pledge—you had no fear;
What then to fear have I?
Though long you sleep, I shall be near;
So hush—we must not cry.
Sleep softly, dear one, softly—
They cannot part us now;
Forever rest here on my breast,
My kiss upon your brow.
What though they hide a little grave
With dream-flowers false or true?
What difference? We will just be brave
Together—I and you.
poem by Harriet Monroe
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Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.
quote by Bella Abzug
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Pejar Creek
Deep in the meadow grass
Easy stand the cattle,
Lightly lock the young bulls
In a mimic battle,
Pride gathers with each shock,
Every break and rally -
That’s where the Pejar runs,
Runs like a slip of silver through the valley.
Softly as a thrush sings
In the morning hushes,
Softly sing the waters
Round the reedy rushes,
Softly at the sand-bar,
Softly at the sally -
That’s where the Pejar runs,
Runs like a slip of silver through the valley.
Where awakes the morning
To dapple all the hills,
Where dewdrop, shaken,
Pendant slides and spills,
Where the golden bugles
Sunset calls reveille -
That’s where the Pejar runs,
Runs like a slip of silver through the valley.
Where the springtime blossoms
Like a mellow laughter,
Over all the grasses,
Over ridge and rafter,
Over all the tree-tops,
Down each ferny valley -
That’s where the Pejar runs,
Runs like a slip of silver through the valley.
Where the Pejar rises
Springs the Wollondilly,
Twinned upon the mountains
Babbling brook and ghyllie;
Where the bridge-heads rumble
Side by side they dally -
Out where the Pejar runs,
Runs like a slip of silver through the valley.
poem by Dame Mary Gilmore
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Speak With Kindness (Or Do Not Speak At All)
speak with kindness,
or do not speak at all.
speak not of judgement,
you are not the judge.
speak not of salvation,
let your living be your scriptures.
speak not of scriptures,
let your actions be your holy book.
speak not as apostle or teacher,
speak as a human being.
speak not of god,
then god will speak through you!
speak not as a man,
for you are woman too.
speak not with hateful malice,
for love does not work that way.
speak not as a prophet or seer,
speak as compassion made flesh.
speak not of morality,
speak of connection.
speak not of authority,
the tree and the leaf have just as much.
speak not of holiness,
for all that lives be holy.
speak with kindness...
or do not speak at all!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Please
Please tread softly as you pass my heart,
For wounded souls are sensitive to sorrow,
And need the solace of a peaceful calm,
To mend the grief and start a new tomorrow.
Please speak softly as you near my heart,
The beats unsteady still, the hurt remains,
And yet a voice that soothes, becomes a balm,
To clear the path, and break restricting chains.
Please touch softly as you take my heart,
Such trust will falter, should any harshness stain,
Yet as each day of care weaves like a charm,
Love comes anew, and thus there's no more pain.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Billy Breathes
Tumbling greens, a pick-up screams alone above the square
Whoa, sing softly
Above the trees where billy breathes we float upon the air
Whoa, oh
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Ooooh ooooh
Silent scenes in motion means, Ill wake you when were there
Whoa, sing softly
Time, it seems, in broken dreams, to sleep beside the stair
Whoa, oh
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Ooooh ooooh
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
Softly sing sweet songs
song performed by by Phish
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Child's Fancy
"Hush, hush! Speak softly, Mother dear,
So that the daisies may not hear;
For when the stars begin to peep,
The pretty daisies go to sleep.
"See, Mother, round us on the lawn,
With soft white lashes closely drawn,
They've shut their eyes so golden-gay,
That looked up through the long, long day.
"But now they're tired of all the fun--
Of bees and birds, of wind and sun
Playing their game at hide-and-seek;--
Then very softly let us speak."
A myriad stars above the child
Looked down from heaven and sweetly smiled;
But not a star in all the skies
Beamed on him with his Mother's eyes.
She stroked his curly chestnut head,
And whispering very softly, said,
"I'd quite forgotten they might hear;
Thank you for that reminder, dear.
poem by Mathilde Blind
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Papersnow
Pink confetti, shotgun wedding
Rocket secrets someones shredding
Nineteenth floor.
Laundry ticket that exploded
Joust with quaker pamphlet goaded
Into war.
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone elses
Ticker tape parade
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Petals fell on petaluma
Till receipt from montezumas
Burger hut.
Every day a billion dollars
Fall as black and white blue-collars
Plough their rut.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone elses
Ticker tape parade
Jets folded from wall street journal
Shoot down cartons care of colonels
Chicken ranch.
Kleenex where the guys been cryin
Goodbye note from girl whos flyin
To new branch.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Letter that Id meant to send you
To torpedo and up-end you
Sheet by sheet.
Tore up all the beg and bitter
Add them to the drift of litter
On your street.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone elses
Ticker tape parade
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Waiting for You
when i die,
please do not
grief for me,
do not even shed a tear
for i live on
in the hearts
of those who care
the field where we
plough for each other's
spiritual growth
this physique
you know, is a shadow
of a life that lives on
draw a painting
of me instead
and speak to me
whenever you can
it will be more fruitful that way
speak to that part
of the universe
that perpetually
holds us dear
speak to your own heart
where you have carved
a room for me
where i had worked
and marked for
our rendevouz
here, i snugly wait for you
to come each night
- to softly whispher
to me your dreams
where i pray
for all of them
to come true
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Titanic Requiem
Sleep softly in your ocean bed,
You who could grandly die !
Our fathers, who at Shiloh bled,
Accept your company.
O sons of warriors, lightly rest,
Daughters of pioneers!
Heroes freeborn, who chose the best,
No tears for you, but cheers!
Lovers of life, who life could give,
Sleep softly where you lie!
Ours be the vigil—help us live,
Who teach us how to die.
poem by Harriet Monroe
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Fall Softly
Fall softly on my body
As it lays here cold as snow
The life is leached from these dead limbs
A warmth I'll never know
Fall softly on my body
Light from the dying sun
With all the things I'll never see
Having only just begun
Fall softly on my body
All the words I will not hear
Not the joy or the laughter
Nor the pain and the fear
Fall softly on my body
Thoughts from the one-time me
As a voice heard in the distance whispers
'Hope you fall softly'
poem by Anonymous Ghurl
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Will You Be There - Michael Jackson
Hold me
Like the River Jordan
And I will then say to Thee
You are my friend
Carry me
Like you are my brother
Love me like a mother
Will you be there?
Weary
Tell me will you hold me?
When wrong, will you scold me?
When lost will you find me?
But they told me
A man should be faithful
And walk when not able
And fight till the end
But I'm only human
Everyone's taking control of me
Seems that the world's
Got a role for me
I'm so confused
Will you show to me
You'll be there for me
And care enough to bare me?
(Hold me)
(Lay your head lowly)
(Softly then boldly)
(Carry me there)
(Lead me)
(Love me and feed me)
(Kiss me and free me)
(I will feel blessed)
(Carry)
(Carry me boldly)
(Lift me up slowly)
(Carry me there)
(Save me)
(Heal me and bathe me)
(Softly you say to me)
(I will be there)
(Lift me)
(Lift me up slowly)
(Carry me boldly)
(Show me you care)
(Hold me)
(Lay your head lowly)
(Softly then boldly)
(Carry me there)
(Need me)
(Love me and feed me)
(Kiss me and free me)
(I will feel blessed)
......
RIP, MJ
poem by Rebecca Ryan
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Softly
Softly she comes
Whispers the breeze with her passing
In secret love she is laughing
Softly she comes in the night
Softly she sighs
Sweetly she lies never sleeping
Her fragrance all in my keeping
Softly she comes in the night
Down the darkened hall
I hear her footsteps on my stair
And she is in my arms once more
Then softly she goes
Her shining lips in the shadows
Whisper goodbye at my window
Softly she goes in the dawn
Down the darkened hall
I hear her footsteps on my stair
And she is in my arms once more
Then softly she goes
Her shining lips in the shadows
Whisper goodbye at my window
Softly she goes in the dawn
Softly she goes in the dawn
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Among those best known, their highest ambition is to build American homes, possess American furniture, dress in American clothes, adopt the American style of living and be American citizens.
quote by Sheldon Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Same Story, The same History
...and so the same story is told
the same history is made....
why always speak of descrimination
why always speak of war
why always speak of class
why always speak of injustice
why always speak of poverty
why always speak of rebellion....
why not speak of equality
why not speak of peace
why not speak of respect
why not speak of wisdom
why not speak of production
why not speak of working together...
...and so the same story is told
the same history is made.
poem by Marites C. Cayetano
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Cry Softly Lonely One
Joe melson/don gant
Cry softly lonely one
It's over, it's said, it's done
Don't let your heart break down
He's not the only one
So you're blue
And lonely too
Don't fall apart
And when the teardrops start
You can cry;cry to me girl
Cry;cry to me girl
I'll be standing by
I will dry your eyes
But for now, cry softly lonely one
Cry softly lonely one
Your heartaches have just begun
And though they linger on
Carry on, be strong
You're baby's gone
Left you alone
But i'll stand by you
On the long nights through
You can cry, cry to me girl
C'mon and cry, cry to me girl
Don't cry all alone
Baby from now on
You can run to me;come to me
You can cry to me
Tonight and forever,lonely one
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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