My Creed

by Edgar A. Guest 

To live as gently as I can; 
To be, no matter where, a man; 
To take what comes of good or ill 
And cling to faith and honor still; 
To do my best, and let that stand 
The record of my brain and hand; 
And then, should failure come to me, 
Still work and hope for victory.

To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.

To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind,
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.

This, I believe, is all I need 
For my philosophy and creed.