Thou, proud man, look upon yon starry vault,
Survey the countless gems which richly stud
The night's imperial chariot;--Telescopes
Will show the myriads more, innumerous
As the sea-sand:--each of those little lamps
Is the great source of light, the central sun
Round which some other mighty sisterhood
Of planets travel,--every planet stocked
With living beings impotent, as thee.
Now, proud man--now, where is thy greatness fled?
What art thou in the scale of universe?
Less, less than nothing!
--_Henry Kirke White._
1842
The stars govern men, but God governs the stars.
1843
No man can be expected to be wise on an empty stomach.
1844
The more violent the storm, the sooner it is over.
--_Seneca._
1845
If a man be gracious unto strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the
world, and his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a
continent that joins them.
1846
Be willing to pity the misery of the stranger! Thou givest to-day thy
bread to the poor; to-morrow the poor may give it to thee.
--_Michaelis._
1847