Inspirational Words of Wisdom

Four Things

What do you believe are the four best qualities that all men and women should possess? It's an interesting question and over time, many people have given a variety of answers to this thoughtful question. In this short verse, the poet defines what he believes to be the qualities that he thinks are indispensable. Do you agree? More importantly, can you find these same qualities in yourself?

Four Things
by Henry Van Dyke

Four things a man must learn to do
If he would make his record true:
To think without confusion clearly;
To love his fellow-men sincerely;
To act from honest motives purely;
To trust in God and Heaven securely.


~Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933)

Henry van Dyke was an American author, educator, poet, playwright, and clergyman.

He attended Princeton University and graduated in 1873, after which he became a professor of English literature at Princeton, serving between 1899 and 1923.

Being a pastor, Van Dyke wrote many stories and poems related to Christianity, religion in general, and Christmas. For example, his Christmas story The Mansion is about a mansion that speaks "not of money squandered but of wealth prudently applied," and is the companion story to The Other Wise Man.


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These are books that I have personally read and enjoyed very much. If you're searching for a "feel good" inspirational book, I'd recommend picking up one of the following:


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