---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Labor with what zeal we will, Something…"
description: "\"Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains undone, Something uncompleted still Waits the rising of the sun.\" — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg"
---

#  Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains…

![“Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains undone, Something uncompleted still Waits the rising of the sun.” quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg)

> “Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains undone, Something uncompleted still Waits the rising of the sun.”

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hard work leaves some tasks unfinished, reminding us that effort alone may not complete everything.

**In simple terms:** Even with effort, some things stay undone.

Key Takeaway

Accept limits and prioritize.

Themes

work effort incompletion humility

Mood

reflective philosophical

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- construction projects
- personal goals
- creative writing
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

philosophical time management

Questions to Reflect On

- Which tasks truly matter to you?
- How do you decide when to let go?

A Different Perspective

Not all tasks can be finished despite effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-zeal-5893920/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Remains Undone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains-undone-4998201/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Undone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undone/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waits Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waits-rising-5893921/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) [Zeal Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal-remains-5893922/)

## Related quotes

> [“Task left undone remains undone in two places—at the actual location of the task, and inside your head. Incomplete tasks in your head consume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahma-kumaris/task-left-undone-remains-undone-in-two-places-at-the-actual-location/)

[Brahma Kumaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahma-kumaris/)

> [I shall never rest until I have undone the harm I did to so many well-meaning, innocent Negroes who through my own evangelistic zeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-shall-never-rest-until-i-have-undone-the-harm-i-did-to-so-many-well/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [“Being interested in doing undone things means you have the wish to have them done. But being powerful and filled with passion tells that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/being-interested-in-doing-undone-things-means-you-have-the-wish-to/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [For 12 long years I lived within the narrow-minded confines of the 'straightjacket world' created by my strong belief that Elijah Muhammad was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/for-12-long-years-i-lived-within-the-narrow-minded-confines-of-the/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [A word that has been said may be unsaid-it is but air. But when a deed is done, it cannot be undone, nor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/a-word-that-has-been-said-may-be-unsaid-it-is-but-air-but-when-a-deed/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [We often excuse our own want of philanthropy by giving the name of fanaticism to the more ardent zeal of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/we-often-excuse-our-own-want-of-philanthropy-by-giving-the-name-of/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [I do not love thee less for what is done, And cannot be undone. Thy very weakness Hath brought thee nearer to me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/i-do-not-love-thee-less-for-what-is-done-and-cannot-be-undone-thy/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Done is done can not be undone so its well done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/done-is-done-can-not-be-undone-so-its-well-done/)

[Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/)

> [If it is not strong upon your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read? To increase your own condemnation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-it-is-not-strong-upon-your-heart-to-practice-what-you-read-to-what/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [How will the Tower of Babel be undone? How will we understand each other in Heaven? Will we all speak English or Dutch or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/how-will-the-tower-of-babel-be-undone-how-will-we-understand-each/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [The plain fact is that she never really liked me, and never wanted me. I had been a mistake; and that, to some extent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-plain-fact-is-that-she-never-really-liked-me-and-never-wanted-me/)

[Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/)

> [All of us, whether guilty or not, whether old or young, must accept the past. It is not a case of coming to terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-von-weizsaecker/all-of-us-whether-guilty-or-not-whether-old-or-young-must-accept-the/)

[Richard von Weizsaecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-von-weizsaecker/)

> [“George's hand lifted and fell away again. It seemed an insult to imply that anything so small as a touch could stop the raw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-s-hand-lifted-and-fell-away-again-it-seemed-an-insult-to-imply/)

[Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/)

> [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/)

[Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/)

> [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

## More by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

> [The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-spring-came-suddenly-bursting-upon-the-world-as-a-child-bursts/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [In old age our bodies are worn-out instruments, on which the soul tries in vain to play the melodies of youth. But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [“ Endymion The rising moon has hid the stars; Her level rays, like golden bars, Lie on the landscape green, With shadows brown between.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/endymion-the-rising-moon-has-hid-the-stars-her-level-rays-like-golden/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/fame-comes-only-when-deserved-and-then-is-as-inevitable-as-destiny/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [“  Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian farmers,—   Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from   Fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-dwelt-together-in-love-these-simple-acadian-farmers-dwelt-in-the/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling upward in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/heights-by-great-men-reached-and-kept-were-not-obtained-by-sudden/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [All things come round to him who will but wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/all-things-come-round-to-him-who-will-but-wait/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Ah, how skillful grows the hand That obeyeth Love's command! It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ah-how-skillful-grows-the-hand-that-obeyeth-love-s-command-it-is-the/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Thus departed Hiawatha, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, In the purple mists of evening, To the regions of the home-wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-departed-hiawatha-hiawatha-the-beloved-in-the-glory-of-the/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Books are sepulchres of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/books-are-sepulchres-of-thought/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/morality-without-religion-is-only-a-kind-of-dead-reckoning-an/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Buried was the bloody hatchet; Buried was the dreadful war-club; Buried were all warlike weapons, And the war-cry was forgotten. Then was peace among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/buried-was-the-bloody-hatchet-buried-was-the-dreadful-war-club-buried/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

[Explore all 755 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

## More Forgiveness quotes

> [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/)

[Serge Kahili King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-kahili-king/)

> [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/)

[Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/)

> [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/)

[Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/)

> [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/)

[Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/)

> [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/)

[Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/)

> [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/)

[Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/)

> [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/)

[Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/)

[Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains undone, Something uncompleted still Waits the rising of the sun.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-still-remains-undone-something/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forgiveness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-still-remains-undone-something/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_forgiveness_labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-s_759669.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Labor with what zeal we will, Something still remains undone, Something uncompleted still Waits the rising…” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Labor with what zeal we will,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-still-remains-undone-something/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/labor-with-what-zeal-we-will-something-still-remains-undone-something/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
