I see, but cannot reach, the height
That lies forever in the light.

I see, but cannot reach, the height
That lies forever in the light.

Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
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Oh, sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise.
By mountains pil'd on mountains to the skies?
Heav'n still with laughter the vain toil surveys,
And buries madmen in the heaps they raise.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring read more

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.

The great refusal.
[It., Il gran rifiuto.]

The great refusal.
[It., Il gran rifiuto.]

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, read more

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we would storm
heaven itself in our folly.
[Lat., read more

Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we would storm
heaven itself in our folly.
[Lat., Nil mortalibus arduum est:
Coelum ipsum petimus stultitia.]