This is one of the many quotes our school principal, Mr. Olusegun Adeboye, often says in the assembly to encourage us. This was about 40 years ago. How time flies

Mutiatu from Il, July 3, 2025

I remembered this quote from a book about Materials for Engineering, I was on my first semester of Mechanical Engineering. Always on my mind.

Henry Ch. from New York., May 12, 2025

My Big bro quote this poem to me alot, now it motivates me more than anything

EbubeAkukwe from Lagos,Nigeria, May 10, 2025

I read this stanza in my school age in1968 written on my alpha notebook on the title below a picture showing someone studying in candle light in late night. I am speechless how it motivated me in every step of my life.

Tahira Zia from Islamabad Pakistan , March 19, 2025

It was often quoted and repeated by my father and I passed it on to my children.

Jitender from Vidyanagar, Hyderabad. , February 2, 2025

My father introduced me to this poem when I was a school boy He wrote this on piece of paper and pasted it on the wall which I read almost daily Very inspirational

Lionel from Sri Lanka , December 28, 2024

This quote was taught to us by our Headmaster way back in 1994 during the assembly...Mr Umo at Bright Star Nur/Pry School, Bajulaiye, Lagos, Nigeria. I never forgot it till today.

Ifeanyichukwu from Lagos, Nigeria, September 26, 2024

I read this quote in a book mark when I was in school. It really influenced me deeply. I could never forget it till today.

Rummy from India, September 24, 2024

I learn this quote in prep school in Jamaica 🇯🇲 was too young to know what it meant -but learned later in life the powerfullness of the saying

Jan from Miami , September 12, 2024

My father quoted this in a letter to me, in 1971, when I was in my first year of engineering. Amongst all the quotes, I consider this as the best one. I repeat this, every time I am invited as a guest speaker, in any educational institution.

ANBU Samuel from Bangalore , July 25, 2024

A beautiful poem to keep us going strong in the face of challenges and even great opposition. I've since my teenage years, kept it in my memory - It's really encouraging and uplifting...

Nelson Ayivor from Ghana , July 22, 2024

My Dad told me this poem over and over and it helped me get to fulfilling my goal to become a doctor... Now I pass it on to my grandchildren.

Anonymous, June 27, 2024

I had it as my rhyme in class 2 on our day and it has never left me.

Fred Golo from Ghana, March 3, 2024

I got the quote written in large font for display in a private school ,The Metropolitan College in Johannesburg,it has always been mantra whenever l hustled even working very early and knocking very late ....

Mpilo Moyo from Johannesburg , October 8, 2023

I learned this quote in primary schools in Jamaica in the 60s

Leonard and from FL, September 26, 2023

It is a very common quote in my family. My parents use them quite often. We cited our father's Sylvester Ukam Uno regular use of the piece to motivate us in his funeral program. This quotation helped me immensely.

John Inah Ukam from Nigeria, September 20, 2023

My high school German teacher recited this almost daily. Then he would give us a wink and say, "There are only a few of us left."

Alex from Tacoma, WA, USA, April 3, 2023

My mother grew up in the 80's and would recite this to me year after year when i was a kid growing up, because it was something her mother used to say to her as a child. Im getting this tattooed and will be passing it down to my children later on when i do hve some

Denzel from St. Maarten, May 27, 2022

This inspirational passage was very often quoted by the great Jamaican DJ I-Roy. He was a Customs Officer and a well-educated man who sadly died in poverty in November 1999.

Keith from Ipswich, England, May 25, 2022

Extremely great

Marvin from Guyana, April 2, 2022

My secondary school used to hang a huge banner with these words in the school hall during every Prize-giving ceremony. Truly inspiring!

Chinenye from Nigeria , March 16, 2022

Absolutely true

Joseph Anglierepie from Kintampo South, February 19, 2022

This quote really helped me when I was much younger.

Emmanuel Okon from Nigeria, January 24, 2022

A friend of mine thought me this quote, while I was in high school. I have thought this quote to my son, who is now at University. It is my hope that he will pass it on to his children.

Carla Samuels-Heron from Kingston, Jamaica, December 16, 2021

My grandmother said this to me every time she brought me tea while I was doing school homework at my desk. Tomorrow I am handing the desk to my grandson, and Longfellow's words will be in the top drawer.

Jacob Dreyer from Scotland, October 8, 2021

With hard work and dedication faith and determination you will win the race you are set out for.

Marjorie Ryan from Knightsville Yallahs St Thomas Jamaica , September 6, 2021

Amazing story

Anonymous, June 29, 2021

My Dad's mantra! Now mine too!

Marlene Mark from Trinidad& Tobago, June 12, 2021

My JSS headmaster, may his soul rest in peace, said this quote every Monday at morning assembly about 22 years ago.

Cephas C. Glavee from GHANA, April 12, 2021

This was taught to us in primary school very powerful words I still use it as part of my motivation

Evelet from Jamaica 🇯🇲, March 6, 2021

Action work struggle , extra effort leads to great success

Shobha from NJ USA 🇺🇸 , January 23, 2021

Very good quote. I tried to remind it after 12 years. I am inspired by the message being conveyed by saying.

Lokesh Kumar from Delhi, India, January 17, 2021

My English teacher gave this quote to me 60 years ago. I recited it yesterday to somebody in a conversation.

Annie from South Africa , December 15, 2020

My dad told me this when I was about 5 years old.

Anonymous, August 17, 2020

This was my most inspirational quote I looked up to when I was at high school. It somehow always powered me to achieve my set targets especially when I have work at night. Absolutely Forever Relevant.

Kealeboga Olebogile from Palapye, Botswana, September 22, 2019

Soo inspirational

Shanu from London, June 12, 2019

When my daughter Migrated to the US to go to college, I did this quotation in Calligraphy and pinned it to her bedside wall. I myself remember this all the time when I am painting especially at nights.

When we migrated to the US, May 11, 2019

My father would often quote this poem to us as children .He even had a display plaque done at our home .I can still recite this after 40 odd decades

Susy from Bangalore ,India, April 16, 2019

I love this poem, I learnt it in middle school back in my Caribbean Island, and it has been one of the sources of my accomplishment.

Pamela Gordon, from Boynton Beach, Florida, March 13, 2019

I woke up this morning 1/11/19 calling my prayer and study partner., call several times, no answer. This is what came to me. So I look it up. As I always say it's consistency.

Gloria Mccubbin from Syracuse NY , January 12, 2019

Really wonderful

Rahul from Maharashtra, December 8, 2018

Wonderful quote

Kathan Patel from Nashik, June 20, 2018

Nice

Vedanshi from Surat, February 14, 2018

This peom is a great to encourage students who find to discouraging to study. I am using it as our class room motto. The children are understanding the concept. And the story is incorporated in reading exercise/ programme.

Pamela Munro from Jamaica, February 1, 2018

My grandmother always say this poet to me and passed down to generation to generation

Brianna from New York/Florida, May 28, 2017

One of my favourite which has been passesd down to my children and grandchildren.

Audrey from Florida/Guyana, June 9, 2016

I grew up on this, it helps to build Character

Camay from Charlotte, NC, September 3, 2015

This quote really motivates me to work harder

mechelle from guyana,south america, July 29, 2014