When You Get to Know a Fellow

When you get to know a fellow, know his joys and know his cares, 

When you’ve come to understand him and the burdens that he bears, 

When you’ve learned the fight he’s making and the troubles in his way, 

Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday. 

You find his faults are trivial and there’s not so much to blame 

In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name. 

You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor’s style, 

You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while,

And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow

As you talk about the failures of the man you do not know,

But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch,

You find the traits you hated really don’t amount to much.

When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim,

You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him;

You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer,

For with understanding always prejudice’s disappear.

You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell,

For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well.

When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame,

Know more of him you censure than his business and his name;

For it’s likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel,

And you’d really come to like him if you knew him very well.

When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways,

Then his faults won’t really matter, for you’ll find a lot to praise.

~ Edgar A. Guest

The Crucible Of Life

Sunshine and shadow, blue sky and gray,

Laughter and tears as we tread on our way;

Hearts that are heavy, then hearts that are light,

Eyes that are misty and eyes that are bright;

Losses and gains in the heat of the strife,


Each in proportion to round out his life.



Into the crucible, stirred by the years,

Go all our hopes and misgivings and fears;


Glad days and sad days, our pleasures and pains,

Worries and comforts, our losses and gains.

Out of the crucible shall there not come

Joy undefiled when we pour off the scum?



Out of the sadness and anguish and woe,

Out of the travail and burdens we know,

Out of the shadow that darkens the way,

Out of the failure that tries us to-day,

Have you a doubt that contentment will come


When you've purified life and discarded the scum?



Tinctured with sorrow and flavored with sighs,

Moistened with tears that have flowed from your eyes;

Perfumed with sweetness of loves that have died,

Leavened with failures, with grief sanctified,

Sacred and sweet is the joy that must come

From the furnace of life when you've poured off the scum. 


~ Edgar A. Guest

I'd Rather See a Sermon

I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear;
Fine council is confusing, but example’s always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true;
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do.
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me,
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that I can be.

And all the travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells you, but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

Edgar A. Guest