Inspirations

WHATEVER IS, IS BEST                                      
I know as my life grows older
    And mine eyes have clearer sight,
That under each rank wrong somewhere
    There lies the root of Right;
That each sorrow has its purpose,
    By the sorrowing oft unguessed;
But as sure as the sun brings morning,
    Whatever is, is best.

I know that each sinful action,
    As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, some time punished,
    Though the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is aided
    Sometimes by the heart’s unrest,
And to grow means often to suffer–
    But whatever is, is best.

I know there are no errors
    In the great Eternal plan,
And all things work together
    For the final good of man.
And I know when my soul speeds onward,
    In its grand eternal quest,
I shall say as I look back earthward,
    Whatever is, is best.  

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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“When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”
― Edward Teller

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Two Kinds of People

There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Two kinds of people no more I say.
Not the good or the bad, for it’s well understood,
The good are half bad, the bad are half good.

Not the happy or sad, for in the swift-flying years,
Bring each man his laughter, each man his tears.
Not the rich or the poor, for to count a man’s wealth,
You must know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s busy span,
Who puts on vain airs is not counted a man.
No! the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, the people who lean.

Wherever you go you’ll find the world’s masses
Are ever divided into these two classes.
And, strangely enough, you will find, too, I mean,
There is only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load
Of the overtaxed lifters who toiled down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear,
Your portion of worry and labor and care?

― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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