William Arthur Ward Poems

 Do More
 Poet: William Arthur Ward

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.
Do more than teach; inspire.
Do more than earn; enrich.
Do more than give; serve.
Do more than live; grow.
Do more than suffer; triumph.


Do more than give; serve. Do more than live; grow.


 We Must
Poet: William Arthur Ward

We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.


The Optimist vs the Pessimist
 Poet: William Arthur Ward

The optimist turns the impossible into the possible;
the pessimist turns the possible into the impossible.
The optimist pleasantly ponders how high the kite will fly;
the pessimist woefully wonders how soon the kite will fall.

The optimist sees a green near every sand trap;
the pessimist sees a sand trap near every green.

The optimist looks at the horizon and sees an opportunity;
the pessimist peers into the distance and fears a problem.

To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges;
to the pessimist all doors have locks and latches.

The optimist promotes progress, prosperity and plenty;
the pessimist preaches limitations, liabilities and losses.

The optimist accentuates assets, abundance, and advantages;
the pessimist majors in mistakes, misfortunes and misery.

The optimist goes out and finds the bell;
the pessimist gives up and wrings his or her hands.


The optimist sees a green near every sand trap; the pessimist sees a sand trap near every green.


 Before You
 Poet: William Arthur Ward

Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.


Believe While Others
Poet: William Arthur Ward

Believe while others are doubting.
Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping.
Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming.
Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing.
Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking.
Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing.
Persist while others are quitting.


Persist while others are quitting


 A New Year
 Poet: William Arthur Ward

Another fresh new year is here
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!


Risk
 Poet: William Arthur Ward

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing,
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave
who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.


But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.


 Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
"An optimist is a person who undertakes a seemingly impossible task in a spirit of immeasurable enthusiasm, unbounded determination, unbelievable excitement, indestrucible confidence, uncompromising thoroughness, and indefatigable persistence . . . with understandable success." William Arthur Ward

"The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision." William Arthur Ward

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." William Arthur Ward
More William Arthur Ward Quotes



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