Think where thou hast to go—
Heed how thou goest
How much thou ought'st to know —
How little knowest.
Watch well, lest on the way,
Passion suffice thee,
Ambition lend astray,
Pleasure entice thee.
Why should an angry word,
Hastily spoken,
Be like a brandished sword—
Strife's deadly token?
Let it pass like the wind,
Lightly regarded,
Amply by peace of mind
Thou'lt be rewarded.
Why should we wish the right
Path to abandon?
Ambition makes the height
Too steep to stand on.
Keep the straightforward course,
Steadily, mildly,
Nor like a torrent's force
Hurry on wildly.
What from wealth can we gain
That is enduring?
Pleasure but leads to pain
By its alluring.
Now onward and upward, thy
Motto should be,
Looking to Him on high
Who died for thee.
