Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed read more

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed toti genitum se credere mundo.]

It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

In every sorrowing soul I pour'd delight,
And poverty stood smiling in my sight.

In every sorrowing soul I pour'd delight,
And poverty stood smiling in my sight.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.