Charles Godfrey Leland Quotations

If all the world must see the world As the world the world hath seen, Then it were better for the world That the world have never been.

Love leads to present rapture,-then to pain; But all through Love in time is healed again.

To Paradise, the Arabs say, Satan could never find the way Until the peacock led him in.

Among the flowers no perfume is like mine; That which is best in me comes from within. So those in this world who would rise and shine Should seek internal excellence to win. And though 'tis true that falsehood and despair Meet in my name, yet bear it still in mind That where they meet they perish. All is fair When they are gone and nought remains behind.

Jas in the Arab language is despair, And Min the darkest meaning of a lie. Thus cried the Jessamine among the flowers, How justly doth a lie Draw on its head despair! Among the fragrant spirits of the bowers The boldest and the strongest still was I. Although so fair, Therefore from Heaven A stronger perfume unto me was given Than any blossom of the summer hours.

But, as old Swedish legends say, Of all the birds upon that day, The swallow felt the deepest grief, And longed to give her Lord relief, And chirped when any near would come. Hugswala swala swal honom! Meaning, as they who tell it deem, Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him!

Up rose the wild old winter-king, And shook his beard of snow; "I hear the first young hard-bell ring, 'Tis time for me to go! Northward o'er the icy rocks, Northward o'er the sea, My daughter comes with sunny locks: This land's too warm for me!

When in God thou believest, near God thou wilt certainly be.

Time fleeth on, Youth soon is gone, Naught earthly may abide; Life seemeth fast, But may not last-- It runs as runs the time.

What is a kiss? Alacke! at worst, A single Dropp to quenche a Thirst, Tho' oft it prooves, in happie Hour, The first swete Dropp of our long Showre.

Sweet music! sacred tongue of God.

Thought is the measure of life.

Life will be lengthened while growing, for Thought is the measure of life.

The Lord of Learning who upraised mankind from being silent brutes to singing men.

The brave deserve the lovely - every woman may be won.

It was the noise Of ancient trees falling while all was still Before the storm, in the long interval Between the gathering clouds and that light breeze Which Germans call the Wind's bride.

They saw a Dream of Loveliness descending from the train.