Inspiration Quotes

""Hail to thee, blithe spirit!/Bird thou never wert/That from Heaven, or near it,/Pourest thy full heart/In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.""

- William Blake

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. Think constantly on the changes of the elements into each other, for such thoughts wash away the dust of earthly life."

- Marcus Aurelius

"Music is everywhere. It's in the air between us, waiting to be sung."

- David Levithan

"The red and white and starry blue - is freedom's shield and hope."

- John Philip Sousa

"I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself, the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation."

- Franklin Knight Lane

"The flag of the United States has not been created by rhetorical sentences in declarations of independence and in bills of rights. It has been created by the experience of a great people, and nothing is written upon it that has not been written by their life. It is the embodiment, not of a sentiment, but of a history."

- Woodrow Wilson

"I am the flag of the United States of America. I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I stand side by side with the Maple Leaf on the worlds' longest undefended border. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped — I am saluted. I am loved — I am revered. I am respected — and I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me, I was there. I led my troops, I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me And I was proud. I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle — it hurts. But I shall overcome — for I am strong. I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours. But my finest hours are yet to come. When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY. LONG MAY I WAVE."

- Howard Schnauber

"Here's to the red of it; There's not a thread of it — No nor a shred of it — In all the spread of it, From foot to head, But heroes bled for it, Faced steel and lead for it — Precious blood shed for it, Bathing it red. Here's to the white of it; Thrilled by the sight of it, Who knows the right of it But has felt the might of it Through day and night? Womanhood's care for it Made manhood dare for it; Purity's prayer for it Kept it so white Here's to the blue of it, Heavenly view of it, Star spangled hue of it, Honesty's due of it, Constant and true; Here's to the whole of it — Stars, stripes and pole of it — Here's to the soul of it, Red white and blue."

- John Jay Daly

"Said Washington to Betsy Ross, "A flag our nation needs To lead our valiant soldiers on to high and noble deeds Now can you make one for us, to which she made reply, "I am not certain if I can; At least I'll gladly try." Chorus: So she took some red for the blood they shed Some white for purity, Some stars so bright from the sky overhead Some blue for loyalty, And sewed them all together, For loyal hearts and true, And hand in hand as one we stand For the red, the white and the blue. Said Betsy Ross to Washington, "Your country's flag behold!" And through his tear-dimmed eyes he saw the stars and stripes unfold. Then to his breast he clasped it, and looked to heaven above. "Oh may it ever stand," he cried, "For rights and truth and love.""

- Popular school song, as recalled and submitted by Anne Dreisbach

"Each red stripe has blazoned forth Gospels writ in blood; Every star has sung the birth Of some deathless good."

- Lucy Larcom

"Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow — red, yellow, brown, black and white — and we're all precious in God's sight."

- Jesse Jackson

"Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, A flash of color beneath the sky: Hats off! The flag is passing by! Blue and crimson and white it shines Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines. Hats off! The colors before us fly But more than the flag is passing by. Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Fought to make and to save the State: Weary marches and sinking ships; Cheers of victory on dying lips; Days of plenty and years of peace; March of a strong land's swift increase; Equal justice, right and law, Stately honor and reverend awe; Sign of a nation, great and strong To ward her people from foreign wrong: Pride and glory and honor, --all Live in the colors to stand or fall. Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums; And loyal hearts are beating high: Hats off! The flag is passing by!"

- Henry Holcomb Bennett

"When we honor our flag we honor what we stand for as a Nation — freedom, equality, justice, and hope."

- Ronald Reagan

"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."

- John F. Kennedy

"Wine is sunlight, held together by water."

- Galileo Galilei

"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."

- Ernest Hemingway

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential and fight for your dreams."

- Ashley Smith

"Children come alive by being in nature, beckoning us back into its wild places. It awakens their minds, centers their hearts and gives depth of the soul. It’s not an abondment of academic work but rather a help to it."

- Ainsley Arment

"Show the children every winged thing. The bees, dragonflies, queen ants, bluebirds, luna moths & swallowtails. Creatures that inspire them to defy gravity."

- Nicolette Sowder

""Even when a bird walks, one feels it has wings.""

"Every sunrise is an invitation to brighten someone's day."

"Let the light of a new day inspire you to achieve greatness."

"Good morning! The best dreams happen when you’re awake."

"The whole inspiration of our life as a nation flows out from the waving folds of this banner."

"Sunday is the day to be inspired and inspire others. Make a difference today."

"On this Saturday, let your actions echo the dreams you have whispered to yourself during the week."

"Infuse your Saturday with purpose, and let your journey be a beacon of inspiration for others."

"Fill Saturday with the magic of possibility and watch it enchant your life."

""Saturdays are for finding inspiration in the simplest of things.""

"If you haven’t seen anything incredible today go outside"

- Unknown