To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a hu-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 humanity thinks I am.

To leave some simple work 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 my creed.