Carl Sandburg Quotes

Most popular Carl Sandburg Quotes

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. - Carl Sandburg quote.
A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.
— Carl Sandburg Remembrance Rock

babies birth

The customer is always right. - Carl Sandburg quote.
The customer is always right.
— Carl Sandburg

customers

Count reminiscences like money. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Count reminiscences like money.
— Carl Sandburg

memory

Nothing happens, unless first a dream. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Nothing happens, unless first a dream.
— Carl Sandburg
Time is a sandpile we run our fingers in. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Time is a sandpile we run our fingers in.
— Carl Sandburg
Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
— Carl Sandburg

poetry

The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to. - Carl Sandburg quote.
The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to.
— Carl Sandburg Complete Poems

moon

Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.
— Carl Sandburg

poetry

The republic is a dream.
Nothing happens unless first a dream. - Carl Sandburg quote.
The republic is a dream.
Nothing happens unless first a dream.
— Carl Sandburg

dreams

Love your neighbor as yourself; but don't take down the fence. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Love your neighbor as yourself; but don't take down the fence.
— Carl Sandburg
I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way. - Carl Sandburg quote.
I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.
— Carl Sandburg

idealist

Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.
— Carl Sandburg

inspirational joy

Poetry is the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Poetry is the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.
— Carl Sandburg Atlantic Monthly

poetry

Slang is language that takes off its coat, spits on its hands, and goes to work. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Slang is language that takes off its coat, spits on its hands, and goes to work.
— Carl Sandburg The Dictionary of American Slang

slang

Excellent authority tells us that the right laughter is medicine to weary bones. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Excellent authority tells us that the right laughter is medicine to weary bones.
— Carl Sandburg
Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work.
— Carl Sandburg

language

Time is the coin of your life. You spend it. Do not allow others to spend it for you. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Time is the coin of your life. You spend it. Do not allow others to spend it for you.
— Carl Sandburg The Best of Ralph McGill: Selected Columns

time

In these times you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning. - Carl Sandburg quote.
In these times you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
— Carl Sandburg
When one has the right swing and enthusiasm, selling is not unlike hunting, a veritable sport. - Carl Sandburg quote.
When one has the right swing and enthusiasm, selling is not unlike hunting, a veritable sport.
— Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg: His Life and Works

sales

Look out how you use proud words. When you let proud words go, it is not easy to call them back. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Look out how you use proud words. When you let proud words go, it is not easy to call them back.
— Carl Sandburg

holding your tongue

Ordering a man to write a poem is like commanding a pregnant woman to give birth to a red-headed child. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Ordering a man to write a poem is like commanding a pregnant woman to give birth to a red-headed child.
— Carl Sandburg Reader’s Digest

poetry

The machine, yes the machine, never wastes anybody's time, never watches the foreman, and never talks back. - Carl Sandburg quote.
The machine, yes the machine, never wastes anybody's time, never watches the foreman, and never talks back.
— Carl Sandburg
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over the harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on. - Carl Sandburg quote.
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over the harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
— Carl Sandburg
I am the people — the mob — the crowd — the mass. Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me? - Carl Sandburg quote.
I am the people — the mob — the crowd — the mass. Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?
— Carl Sandburg
Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during a moment. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during a moment.
— Carl Sandburg Atlantic Monthly

poetry

Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.  Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.  Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us.
— Carl Sandburg Incidentals

mistakes defeat

A politician should have three hats. One for throwing into the ring, one for talking through, and one for pulling rabbits out of if elected. - Carl Sandburg quote.
A politician should have three hats. One for throwing into the ring, one for talking through, and one for pulling rabbits out of if elected.
— Carl Sandburg

politicians

Truth consists of paradoxes and a paradox
is two facts that stand on opposite hilltops
and across the intervening valley call
each other liars. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Truth consists of paradoxes and a paradox
is two facts that stand on opposite hilltops
and across the intervening valley call
each other liars.
— Carl Sandburg Incidentals

paradox

An ambition is a little creeper that creeps and creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, "Come and find me, come and find me." - Carl Sandburg quote.
An ambition is a little creeper that creeps and creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, "Come and find me, come and find me."
— Carl Sandburg Rootabaga Stories

ambition

People lie because they don't remember clear what they saw.
People lie because they can't help making a story better than it was the way it happened. - Carl Sandburg quote.
People lie because they don't remember clear what they saw.
People lie because they can't help making a story better than it was the way it happened.
— Carl Sandburg The People, Yes

lying

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 quote.
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

time

Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us, and only for those who were willing to fail are the dangers and splendors of life.  To be a good loser is to learn how to win. - Carl Sandburg quote.
Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us, and only for those who were willing to fail are the dangers and splendors of life.  To be a good loser is to learn how to win.
— Carl Sandburg Incidentals

blunders

Nothing happens unless first a dream.
— Carl Sandburg

dreams

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

determination