Better to teach a child than toil to fill perfection's round.
Better sit at a master's feet than thrill a listening state;
Better suspect that thou art proud than be sure that thou art great.
Better to walk in the realm unseen than watch the hour's event;
Better the well done at the last than the air with shoutings rent.
Better to have a quiet grief than a hurrying delight;
Better the twilight of the dawn than the noonday burning bright.
Better to sit at the water's birth than a sea of waves to win;
To live in the love that floweth forth than the love that cometh in.
Better a death when work is done than earth's most favored birth;