Don’t You Quit!

When I was growing up, my dad introduced me to a poem. He was the coach of our representative touch football team and before one of our big games he found this poem which he then printed out. He gave each team member their own copy to read and think about. I found it very inspiring at the time and I often think of this poem when I am going through a hard time.

I was about 18 or 19 years old when I first read it and still in my times of need, these words come back to me. Many a night when I have been up for hours with screaming babies and I feel like I just can not possibly go on another minute, these words have helped me carry on.

I wanted to share them with you all in the hope that in your times of need, you to may be encouraged to keep going and stay strong. Whether it be during challenging times with you little ones, trying to reach your diet and fitness goals or in any other area of your lives.

After a google search to make sure I had the correct wording and to see if I could find the author, I have discovered that the poem my dad introduced me to is actually only the first and last stanza of a much longer poem. And according to my research the author is unknown. (Though apparently many people have tried to lay claim to being the author themselves).

Here is the poem as I know it:

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Here is the full poem:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

I think this will stay with me for life.

Ang