If thou canst plan a noble deed And never flag till thou succeed, Though in the strife thy heart shall bleed, Whatever obstacles control, Thine hour will come; go on, true soul! Thou'lt win the prize; thou'lt reach the goal. I honor the man who is willing to sink Half his present repute for freedom to think; And when he has that, be his cause strong or weak, Will risk t'other half for freedom to speak. --James Russell Lowell. The word is great, and no deed is greater When both are of God, to follow or lead; But alas! for the truth when the word comes later, With questioned steps, to sustain the deed. --John Boyle O'Reilly. Stand upright, speak thy thought, declare The truth thou hast that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere; They only live who dare. --Lewis Morris. There is no duty patent in the world Like daring try be good and true myself, Leaving the shows of things to the Lord of show And Prince o' the power of the air. --Robert Browning. Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains. --Aaron Hill (1685-1750). On the red rampart's slippery swell, With heart that beat a charge, he fell Foeward, as fits a man; But the high soul burns on to light men's feet Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet. --James Russell Lowell. I do not ask that Thou shalt front the fray. And drive the warring foeman from my sight: I only ask, O Lord, by night, by day, Strength for the fight! No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere; I see Heaven's glories shine, And faith shines equal, arming me from fear. --Emily Bronte. You will find that luck Is only pluck To try things over and over; Patience and skill, Courage and will, Are the four leaves of luck's clover. The chivalry That dares the right and disregards alike The yea and nay o' the world. --Robert Browning. God has his best things for the few Who dare to stand the test; He has his second choice for those Who will not have his best. Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most grows two thereby. --George Herbert. INDEPENDENCE MANHOOD, FIRMNESS, EARNESTNESS, RESOLUTION WANTED