Philip James Bailey

thumb| We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;In feelings, not in figures on a dial. thumb|Let each man think himself an act of God,His mind a thought, his life a breath of God;And let each try, by great thoughts and good deeds,To show the most of Heaven he hath in him. Philip James Bailey (22 April 1816 – 6 September 1902) was an English poet, most famous as the author of Festus. Quotes Festus (1839) Festus (1872 edition) at the Internet Archive · (1889 edition) at Google Books thumb|Poets are all who love, who feel great truths,And tell them; and the truth of truths is love. Evil and good are God's right hand and left. Proem Art is man's nature; nature is God's art. Proem Let each man think himself an act of God,His mind a thought, his life a breath of God;And let each try, by great thoughts and good deeds,To show the most of Heaven he hath in him. Proem Night brings out stars as sorrow shows us truths. Any heart turned Godward feels more joyIn one short hour of prayer, than e'er was raisedBy all the feasts of earth since its foundation. I cannot be content with less than heaven;Living, and comprehensive of all life.Thee, universal heaven, celestial all;Thee, sacred seat of intellective time;Field of the soul's best wisdom: home of truth,Star-throned. Men might be better if we better deemedOf them. The worst way to improve the worldIs to condemn it. Scene IV, A Mountain; Sunrise. Compare: "The surest plan to make a man / Is to think him so", J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, II, ii. St. 9 We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;In feelings, not in figures on a dial.We should count time by heart-throbs. He most livesWho thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.Life's but a means unto an end; that endBeginning, mean, and end to all things, — God.The dead have all the glory of the world. Scene V, A Country Town Who never doubted never half believedWhere doubt there truth is—'t is her shadow. Scene V, A Country Town; comparable to Alfred, Lord Tennyson "There lives more faith in honest doubt / Believe me, than in half the creeds." America thou half-brother of the world!With something good and bad of every land. Scene X, Earth's Surface Music tells no truths. Scene XI, A Village Feast While men are what they are; while they have bad Passions to be roused up: while ruled by men; While all the powers and treasures of a land At beck of the ambitious, wrongs may be Offered, with insult; yea, while rights are worth Maintaining; freedom keeping, or life having, So long dread I, the sword shall shine. Poets are all who love, who feel great truths,And tell them; and the truth of truths is love. Scene XVI, The Hesperian Sphere The worst men often give the best advice. They who forgive most shall be most forgiven. Kindness is wisdom. There is none in lifeBut needs it, and may learn. Envy's a coal comes hissing hot from hell. Respect is what we owe; love what we give. Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to Truth. External links Festus (1872 edition) Category:Poets from England Category:1816 births Category:1902 deaths Category:People from Nottingham