Does anyone know what poem and author this stanza is from??? HELP!!! Thanks!


"I have passed this way but once"

or

"We have passed this way but once"

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION! I need to know ASAP!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2005 02:01AM by Desi.

I expect to pass through this life but once.
If, therefore there can be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do
for any fellow being let me do it now...
Let me not defer it, or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.

Stephen Grellet (Etienne de Grellet du Mabillier)

but often attributed to William Penn





Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2005 04:25PM by ilza.

thank you to ilza!!! do you know the name of the poem by chance? is that the whole poem or only part? thanks again!!! :)

sorry ...

some say the title is "Do it now", but actually I believe it has no title
- and this seems to be the full text

Grellet (1773-1855)
French-born (Limoges) Quaker missionary of the Society of Friends,
died in New Jersey

if you have access to a good public library, there are several books about his life, there might be a reference to this quote :

1. STEPHEN GRELLET - William Wistar Comfort
2. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND GOSPEL LABORS OF STEPHEN GRELLET - Benjamin Seebohm
3. THEY KNEW THEIR GOD - E & L Harvey (volume 3)
4. STEPHEN GRELLET - William Guest
5. A SHORT LIFE - STEPHEN GRELLET - Alfred C. Garrett
6. A MISSIONARY LIFE - STEPHEN GRELLET - Anne Budge
7. STEPHEN GRELLET AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST (no. 4) - William Kitching

Perhaps Omar K. was the first to voice such a philosophy?

And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
The Tavern shouted--"Open then the Door!
"You know how little while we have to stay,
And, once departed, may return no more."

[...]

Then to the Lip of this poor earthen Urn
I lean'd, the Secret of my Life to learn:
And Lip to Lip it murmur'd--"While you live,
"Drink!--for, once dead, you never shall return."

nice find !

I learned it this way, though there appear to be quite a number of variants so I am not suggesting this is more correct than the others given above:

"I shall pass this way but once.
Therefore if there is any good that I can do
Or kindness I can show to any living being,
Let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again."

.
I have also seen it like this ( quite old, circa 1880)

The years glide by, stans strong and true,
The good thou canst, oh, quickly do,
Let gentle wqords soothe woe and pain,
we shall not pass this way again.

Surely not quite like that Ilza?

oops


The years glide by, stand strong and true,
The good thou canat, oh, quickly do,
Let gentle words soothe woe and pain,
we shall not pass this way again.

> Hi!

> My Father was a minister and he loved to open service with this poem. He would recite it and the congregation would repeat it. He loved it and lived by it.

His version went "I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I don't want to stand at the setting sun,
And hate myself for the things I've done.
I shall pass throug this world but once,
Any good therefore that I can do, or any
kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let ne not defer not neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.








>

with corrections --

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I don't want to stand at the setting sun,
And hate myself for the things I've done.
I shall pass through this world but once.
Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness
that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.
Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this
way again.