I Have sacrificed all, thou sayest, “that man I might succor;
Vain the attempt; my reward was persecution and hate.”
Shall I tell thee, my friend, how I to humor him manage?
Trust the proverb! I ne’er have been deceived by it yet.
Thou canst not sufficiently prize humanity’s value;
Let it be coined in deed as it exists in thy breast.
E’en to the man whom thou chancest to meet in life’s narrow pathway,
If he should ask it of thee, hold forth a succoring hand.
But for rain and for dew, for the general welfare of mortals,
Leave thou Heaven to care, friend, as before, so e’en now.
(Friedrich von Schiller)
More Poetry from Friedrich von Schiller:
Friedrich von Schiller Poems based on Topics: Man, Life, Friendship, Trust, Hatred, Value, Leading & Managing, Proverbs- The Artists (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Lay Of The Bell (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Fight With The Dragon (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Walk (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Cranes Of Ibycus (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- Ode To Joy -- With Translation (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, Friendship Poems, Hatred Poems, Trust Poems, Leading & Managing Poems, Value Poems, Proverbs PoemsBased on Keywords: sayest, humor, succor, coined, sufficiently, succoring, chancest