The World Would Be the Better For It

If men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battle-fields and glory,
If writ in human hearts a name
Seemed better than in song or story;
If men instead of nursing pride
Would learn to hate it and abhor it,
If more relied on Love to guide,
The world would be the better for it.

 

If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal,
If Love's work had more willing hands
To link this world with the supernal;
If men stored up Love's oil and wine
And on bruised human hearts would pour it,
If "yours" and "mine"
Would once combine,
The world would be the better for it.

 

If more would act the play of Life,
And fewer spoil it in rehearsal;
If Bigotry would sheath its knife,
Till good became more universal;
If Custom, gray with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it,--
If Talent shone
In Truth alone,
The world would be the better for it.

 

If men were wise in little things--
Affecting less in all their dealings;
If hearts had fewer rusted strings
To isolate their kindred feelings;
If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,
Would strike together to restore it,--
If Right made Might
In every fight,
The world would be the better for it.