MY CREED

      To live as gently as I can;
      To be, no matter where, a man;
      To take what comes of good or ill,
      And cling to faith and honor still;

      To do my best, and let that stand
      The record of my brain and hand;
      And then, should failure come to me,
      Still work and hope for victory.

      To have no secret place wherein
      I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
      To be the same when I'm alone
      As when my every deed is known;

      To live undaunted, unafraid
      Of any step that I have made;
      To be without pretense or sham
      Exactly what men think I am.

      To leave some simple work behind
      To keep my having lived in mind;
      If enmity to aught I show,
      To be an honest, generous foe;

      To play my little part, nor whine
      That greater honors are not mine.
      This I believe is all I need
      For my philosophy and creed.

                                      Edgar A. Guest