John Townsend Trowbridge Quotes

• With years a richer life begins, the spirit mellow: ripe age gives tones to violins, wine, and good fellows.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Wine, Years, Giving

  "Three Worlds". Poem by John Townsend Trowbridge,

  45 Copy quote

• If you will observe, it doesn't take
  A man of giant mould to make
  A giant shadow on the wall;
  And he who in our daily sight
  Seems but a figure mean and small,
  Outlined in Fame's illusive light,
  May stalk, a silhouette sublime,
  Across the canvas of his time.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Wall, Mean, Men

  "Authors' Night". Poem by John Townsend Trowbridge,

  9 Copy quote

• Not in rewards, but in the strength to strive, the blessing lies.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Inspirational, Lying, Blessing

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1881). “A Home Idyl: And Other Poems”

  8 Copy quote

• The tears of the young who go their way, last a day; But the grief is long of the old who stay.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Grief, Long, Tears

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1881). “A Home Idyl: And Other Poems”

  4 Copy quote

• A flower more sacred than far-seen success Perfumes my solitary path; I find Sweet compensation in my humbleness, And reap the harvest of a quiet mind.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Sweet, Flower, Mind

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1903). “My Own Story: With Recollection of Noted Persons”

  7 Copy quote

• On turf and curb and bower-roof
  The snow-storm spreads its ivory woof;
  It paves with pearl the garden-walk;
  And lovingly around the tatter'd stalk
  And snivering stem its magic weaves
  A mantle fair as lily-leaves.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Garden, Ivory, Snow

  6 Copy quote

• Darius was clearly of the opinion
  That the air is also man's dominion,
  And that, with paddle or fins or pinion,
  We soon or late
  Shall navigate
  The azure, as now we sail the sea.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Men, Air, Sea

  "Darius Green and his Flying-Machine". Book by John Townsend Trowbridge, 1910.

  56 Copy quote

• For me the diamond dawns are set In rings of beauty.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Dawn, Jewelry, Diamond

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1871). “Vagabonds: And Other Poems”, p.68

  8 Copy quote

• Our days, our deeds, all we achieve or are, Lay folded in our infancy; the things Of good or ill we choose while yet unborn.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Deeds, Achieve, Infancy

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1881). “A Home Idyl: And Other Poems”

  4 Copy quote

• The speckled sky is dim with snow,
  The light flakes falter and fall slow;
  Athwart the hill-top, rapt and pale,
  Silently drops a silvery veil; And all the valley is shut in
  By flickering curtains gray and thin.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Fall, Light, Sky

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1871). “Vagabonds: And Other Poems”, p.42

  4 Copy quote

• I keep some portion of my early gleam;
  Brokenly bright, like moonbeams on a river,
  It lights my life, a far illusive dream,
  Moves as I move, and leads me on forever.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Dream, Moving, Light

  "Twoscore and Ten". "A Home Idyl And Other Poems". Book by John Townsend Trowbridge, quod.lib.umich.edu. 1881.

  5 Copy quote

• Of nothing comes nothing: springs rise not above Their source in the far-hidden heart of the mountains: Whence then have descended the Wisdom and Love That in man leap to light in intelligent fountains?

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Spring, Heart, Intelligent

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1874). “The Emigrant's Story: And Other Poems”, p.103

  4 Copy quote

• The birds can fly, An' why can't I?

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Bird, Aviation, Bluebird

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1869). “Vagabonds: And Other Poems”, p.115

  9 Copy quote

• Men are polished, through act and speech, Each by each, As pebbles are smoothed on the rolling beach.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Beach, Men, Pebbles

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1881). “A Home Idyl: And Other Poems”

  34 Copy quote

• We are two travelers, Roger and I. Roger's my dog-come here, you scamp! Jump for the gentleman-mind your eye! Over the table,-look out for the lamp! The rogue is growing a little old; Five years we've tramped through wind and weather, And slept out-doors when nights were cold, And ate and drank and starved together.

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Friendship, Dog, Eye

  John Townsend Trowbridge, “The Vagabonds”

  4 Copy quote

• The birds can fly, an' why can't I? Must we give in, says he with a grin, That the bluebird an' phoebe are smarter 'n we be?

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Giving, Bird, Bluebird

  John Townsend Trowbridge (1869). “Vagabonds: And Other Poems”, p.115

  5 Copy quote

• "The birds can fly, an' why can't I? Must we give in," says he, with a grin, "'T the blackbird an' phoebe are smarter 'n we be? Jest fold our hands, an' see the swaller An' blackbird an' catbird beat us holler? ... Jest show me that! er prove 't that bat Hez got more brains thans's in my hat, An' I'll back down, an' not till then!"

  John Townsend Trowbridge

  Hands, Giving, Bird

  7 Copy quote

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