Carl Sandburg

The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something.

— Carl Sandburg

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.

— Carl Sandburg

One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude.

— Carl Sandburg

The greatest cunning is to have none at all.

— Carl Sandburg

Nothing happens unless first a dream.

— Carl Sandburg

I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it.

— Carl Sandburg

I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way.

— Carl Sandburg

In these times you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you wake in the morning.

— Carl Sandburg

I tell you the past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, no just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post mortems; and remember, no one can get the jump on the future.

— Carl Sandburg

Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will come.

— Carl Sandburg

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.

— Carl Sandburg

Poetry is the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.

— Carl Sandburg

Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the sky.

— Carl Sandburg

I have written some poetry that I don't understand myself.

— Carl Sandburg

The sea speaks a language polite people never repeat. It is a colossal scavenger slang and has no respect.

— Carl Sandburg

Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work.

— Carl Sandburg

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.

— Carl Sandburg

A baby is Gods opinion that life should go on.

— Carl Sandburg

Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect.

— Carl Sandburg

Who put up that cage?Who hung it up with bars, doors?Why do those on the inside want to get out?Why do those outside want to get in?What is this crying inside and out all the time?What is this endless, useless beating of baffled wings at these bars, doors, this cage?

— Carl Sandburg

Sometime theyll give a war and nobody will come.

— Carl Sandburg

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me workI am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at GettysburgAnd pile them high at Ypres and Verdun. Shovel them under and let me work. Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:What place is this?Where are we now?I am the grass. Let me work.

— Carl Sandburg

The republic is a dreamNothing happens unless first a dream.

— Carl Sandburg

I see America, not in the setting sun of a black night of despair ahead of us, I see America in the crimson light of a rising sun fresh from the burning, creative hand of God. I see great days ahead, great days possible to men and women of will and vision

— Carl Sandburg

If she [America] forgets where she came from, if the people lose sight of what brought them along, if she listens to the deniers and mockers, then will begin the rot and dissolution.

— Carl Sandburg

A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.

— Carl Sandburg

The people will live on. / The learning and blundering people will live on. / They will be tricked and sold and again sold. / And go back to the nourishing earth for rootholds.

— Carl Sandburg

There are men who can’t be bought.

— Carl Sandburg