“It's whether we're true to our best or not When the right thing's certain to hurt a lot.”

— Edgar A. Guest, "The True Man", When Day is Done, 1921

About Edgar A. Guest

1881 – 1959

English-born American poet, known as the "People's Poet".

“He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn't be done, and he did it.”

“Life must be what we make of it.”

“Whate'er my task, be this my creed: I am on earth to fill a need.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”