We Must Learn to Reawaken

We must learn to reawaken 
and keep ourselves awake, 
not by mechanical aids, 
but by an infinite expectation 
of the dawn, which does not 
forsake us even in our 
soundest sleep. 

I know of no more encouraging fact 
than the unquestionable ability 
of man to elevate his life 
by a conscious 
endeavour. 

It is something to be able to paint 
a particular picture, or to carve a statue, 
and so to make a few objects beautiful; 
but it is far more glorious to carve 
and paint the very atmosphere 
and medium through which we look, 
which morally we can do. 

To affect the quality of the day, 
that is the highest of arts.