Both for the country and for the man,And for a country as well as a man,’Tis better to be feared than loved.And if this country would rather partWith the friendship of every nationThan surrender its wealth,I say of a man ’tis worse to loseMoney than friends.And I rend the curtain that hides the soulOf an ancient aspiration:When the people clamor for freedomThey really seek for power o’er the strong.I, Anthony Findlay, rising to greatnessFrom a humble water carrier,Until I could say to thousands “Come,”And say to thousands “Go,”Affirm that a nation can never be good.Or achieve the good,Where the strong and the wise have not the rodTo use on the dull and weak.
Spoon River Anthology · Edgar Lee Masters