Dreams Quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
““ A Psalm of Life Tell me not in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each tomorrow Find us farther than today. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act, - act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sand of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solenm main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1838
The poem urges active, purposeful living, rejecting passive fatalism and emphasizing personal legacy and spiritual vigor.
In simple terms: Live actively, leave a lasting impact.
Act now, shape your future.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal development
- spiritual practice
- community service
- creative projects
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn daily actions into lasting impact?
- What legacy do you wish to leave?
It may overlook structural barriers that limit individual agency.