| Making the Most of Life |
Chapter 17 |
Page 4 |
Many people lose in the aggregate whole years of time out of their lives for want of system. They make no plan for their days. They let duties mingle in inextricable confusion. They are always in feverish haste. They talk continually of being overwhelmed with work, of the great pressure that is upon them, of being driven beyond measure. They always have the air of men who have scarcely time to eat or sleep. And there is nothing feigned in all their intense occupation. They really are hurried men. Yet in the end they accomplish but little in comparison with their great activity, because they work without order, and always feverishly and nervously. Swiftness in accomplishment is always calm and quiet. It plans well, suffering no confusion in tasks. Hurried haste is always flurried haste, which does nothing well. “Unhasting yet unresting” is the motto of quick and abundant achievement.
“‘Without haste! Without rest!’
Bind the motto to thy breast;
Bear it with thee as a spell;
Storm or sunshine, guard it well;
Heed not flowers that round thee bloom,
Bear it onward to the tomb.
“Haste not! Let no thoughtless deed
Mar for aye the spirit’s speed;
Ponder well and know the right;
Onward then with all thy might;
Haste not; years can ne’er atone
For one reckless action done.
“Rest not! Life is sweeping by,
Do and dare before you die;
Something mighty and sublime
Leave behind to conquer time;
Glorious ‘tis to live for aye
When these forms have passed away.
“Haste not! Rest not! Calmly wait;
Meekly bear the storm of fate;
Duty be thy polar guide;
Do the right whate’er betide.
Haste not! Rest not! Conflicts past,
God shall crown thy work at last.”
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