A Nation's Strength Poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Nation's Strength

Rating: 5.0


What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

Saturday, January 17, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: america
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bilal Ahmad Shamim 10 December 2017

A very beautiful and appealing poem . An idealistic view

3 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 23 August 2018

Such a great poem By Ralph Waldo Emerson👍👍👍

2 0 Reply
Adrian Flett 23 August 2018

I wish Trump would read this poem which tells of truth

2 0 Reply
Glen Kappy 23 August 2018

I like this. It would make a good national anthem. -GK

2 0 Reply
Muzahidul Reza 23 August 2018

Some agents convincingly will be a nation's strength, well composed by Ralph Waldo Emerson

0 0 Reply
AP 30 August 2021

nice poem

0 0 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 23 August 2018

A very inspiring poem, written almost two centuries ago. 'Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long.' - Alas! Their number today is few and far between!

0 1 Reply
Savita Tyagi 23 August 2018

Ralph Waldo Emerson must be crying in his grave looking at the pathetically greedy and corrupt people with no empathy whatsoever for brave and honorable, governing his beloved country.

1 0 Reply
Susan Williams 23 August 2018

Men who for truth and honor's sake / Stand fast and suffer long.- - - ] we could use these men now, right now, to stand up in congress for America and the planet and for decency, we could use these men in the top offices in corporations to make brave decisions to protect the environment first and make money second, we need these men in every home to guide their children and all children by their selfless example.

2 0 Reply
Rajnish Manga 23 August 2018

Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long.... //.... True. A great nation is built not by gold but by these people only.

0 0 Reply
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Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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