I Shall Not Pass This Way Again

Posted by: Josef Essberger

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. – by Grellet You may also like: Frankenstein

I expect to pass through this world but once;

any good thing therefore that I can do, or any

kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature,

let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it,

for I shall not pass this way again.

–

by Grellet

You may also like:

• Frankenstein

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Posted by Josef Essberger April 2008
Contributor: Josef Essberger, founder of EnglishClub. Originally from London, England, Josef is the author of several books for learners of English including English Prepositions List and Learn English in 7.

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46 comments

• Andrew Guthrie says:
  

  This saying “I shall pass this way but once….” is credited to a Quaker Missionary, where as I have a strong belief that it’s the creed of a night of grace i.e. The early Knight hospitalier or am I totally deluded.
  I remember it clearly on a plaque hanging on the wall of my mothers sitting room, which has a Knight in full armour holding a standard of the flag of St. George and that inscription was underneath.

• Diane Beck says:
  

  I love the poem and also the song by Seals and Croft very great! We as Christians are trying to save souls with the hand of God!

• Richard Whitney says:
  

  To Connie : Forgive the error. The song that you are referring to is “We May Never Pass This Way Again” by Seals and Crofts. Its beautiful.

• Richard Whitney says:
  

  The song that Connie is referring to is by the 1970s duo Seals and Croft and it is titled “We shall Never Pass this Way Again”.

• wife says:
  

  I have tried to live my life by this saying with the removal of the word “human”. I find it more complete, a realization of the connectedness of ALL life without restricting my kindness to just humans. We are all related. All life is related.

• Best Muslim astrologer says:
  

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• Dr.Kashif says:
  

  it is very lovely poem i love it very much.

• Connie says:
  

  I love this! There was a song… a country song, maybe, that used these words and I am making myself crazy trying to remember who it was and what the name of the song is. Please help!

• meryem says:
  

  the poem is very good it gives us a moral : we should profit in this life bcs it ll last

• BETTYE VALENTINE says:
  

  THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL POEM;I TRY TO BE KIND TO EVERYONE THAT I MEET EVERYDAY

• Ofel Trinidad says:
  

  … all comments are true. since it is entitled to all kinds of interpretation, i will share you mine:

  That life is lived once so whatever action you need/want to do, do not delay.
  And whatever blessing or misfortune comes to you, do not dwell on it too much for it shall pass.

• serigne says:
  

  his

• serigne says:
  

  I’d like to meet this man because in my view,he words seem emamated from prophecy.

• Danny says:
  

  Very touching line, a guiding principle for mankind.

• svetlana says:
  

  These words make you live and think of life.
  Thank you.

• meme says:
  

  ahm..exactly as i thinking..
  it is so very nice..
  i red this poem once and once..
  and the thing that comes in my mind…is..
  to deliver a thing important that someone`s gonna know..that you love him/her and how you appreciate the good things that he/she did to you..
  and you will not pass this way again..

  ^_^mary joy galbizo^_^

• Larry says:
  

  very beautiful.but I can’t understand clearly.or there is something do not know clearly inthe world,for example the PEOTRY……

• Robert Li says:
  

  very nice.this is my first comment in here. I hope I will be better.

• raven jijhey says:
  

  that poem really internalize my inner sensation as I’ve read that, my eagerness to write a poem was boost-in ..

• reyna says:
  

  Hello everybody..!! i think this poem is very nice… is the best…

• kathleen says:
  

  Learned this as a prayer as a child and it has stuck with me ever since.

• Mohamed Rhamedizphy says:
  

  excellent.

• Dalton Whittaker says:
  

  Hello Everyone,

  This is a beautiful poem. The author seems like he was in deep meditation and energizing his spiritual life. I think he was saying, why should I procrastinate about doing for my fellow-man, when I have today? Why should I show love tommorrow and I’m not sure I’ll see first light?

  I’m just a soujourner in this world. So while I’m passing through this land, I see only today, the present. Tommorrow is the future and I don’t know what the future holds. I will continue to show and excersise kindess towards my fellow-man, cause I may never travel this was again.

• Linda k hollywood says:
  

  Through this toilsome world alas
  Once and only once I pass
  If a kindness I may slow
  If I good deed i may do
  For a suffering fellow man,
  Let me do it while I can
  No delay, for it is plain
  I shall not pass this way again
  ………unknown……….

  Best wish
  Linda kosolsak (USA Hollywood)

• Craig Kitching says:
  

  If one soul is saved for eternity with God through your sharing of the good news you will have accomplished the greatest human kindness possible.

• AL SHAMALAT MOHAMMAD says:
  

  MY HOT REGARD TO EVERY ONE

  ACTUALLY I DONT LOOK AFTER THAT WHAT WORDS IS THE AUTHEOR USING BUT I USED TO LOOK TO APPRECIATE THE ATMOSPHER AUTHORS CIRCUMOSTACES IF THAT..SO HE WAS BEING IN BAD CIRCUMSTANCES JUST FOR WHILE WHICH FORCED HIM TO COME UP BY MYSTRIES ATMOSPHER SO ALL ABOVE ACCORDING TO ME……….AL-SHAMALAT MOHAMMAD SULAIMAN…THANK YOU…..?

• AL SHAMALAT MOHAMMAD says:
  

  BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL AS WELL

  AL- SHAMALAT MOHAMMAD SULAIMAN

• Linda k hollywood says:
  

  Hello everyone
  Today is a wonderful.After I read poem and
  poetry I had emotion to try write poem today.
  First time in love.I don’t know where to start.
  My heart believed in you. My heart is peaceful.
  I need Sympathy. I’ve been waiting so long.
  It is wonderful in the past of my life.
  “Now” My heart and love is so “Empty” and
  “Evaporate”.
  One’s innermost filling”

  Have a nice day
  Linda kosolsak (hollywood)

• Linda k hollywood says:
  

  Hello everyone
  I don’t know how to write poem or poetry.
  I was wondering today to read the poem.
  Don’t be afraid to write from a different point of view.Write a poem that says exactly the opposite
  of what you believe,and do it with out irony.
  If everyone don’t know poem. I would like to advise you this web site Poewar.com is very
  interesting and grateful make me know about
  poem and Poetry writing Tip and guidelines for
  writing poem.
  Good luck
  Linda Kosolsak( USA)

• ayyoob says:
  

  what a nice poem
  Till this time I did’t read just like this meaningfull poem
  I am keenly intereted in poems it will give us a deferent enjoyment
  I think that poets are blessed from almighty god because they are playing with the language simply it is a good skill

• Katherine says:
  

  Dear Friends,

  This is a very beautiful poem, it is altruistic and kind. But it seems to me that the lyrical I – the speaker – is a kind of dependent on the others’ opinion and attitude: as we read, “let me do it now”, and “let me not neglect it”. This “LET me” imperative creates the atmosphere of subordination, and it reminds me of Hamlet’s ‘to be-or-not to be’ meditation…

  For example, Emily Dickinson expressed the same altruistic idea of serving others in a very dynamic way: “If I can stop one Heart from Breaking, / I shall not live in Vain”…

• Duy Nguyen says:
  

  it’s very simple poem, but has a lot of emotion. it expresses author’s desire in exploring the world.

• Katty says:
  

  This poetry is very short, but it actually express something impressive. Without special or beautiful phrasing, it still shows, I think, what a person that was about to leave the world think.

• Issy says:
  

  This makes think…what will be people say about us when we’ve gone? Would it be how well we enjoyed ourselves on earth or how many lives we touched and given reason(s) to live their lives and left happy?

• Kanga says:
  

  This was on a card that my Father sent to his wife.

  Since being a little girl I have always had it in my head.

  Basically it means that you have one life. You choose what to do with it. But in doing so, you must always remember that you share this life with many. Family, friends, neighbours – be them next door, next street, next hamlet, next village, next town,next county, next country.

  So by doing a good deed, on the journey through life or many good deeds, you are sharing and helping.

  REMEMBER, that one smile you give to someone today, tomorrow, the next day, may be the ONLY smile that person gets. TREASURE IT, for they SURELY WILL.

• Hida says:
  

  Yeah that’s right! we should be kind enough with one another, as who knows if he would meet his peers again or not??!!

• Arejdal says:
  

  Hello everybody,
  I find this poem as a life guide. Punctuality in work and kindness in human behavior are the success story of every happy man/woman in this world.
  Thanks!!

• hassan says:
  

  hi i love reading. when i read this i shulled not pass this way aginits was realy good and i learn new vocabllarey

• Joe says:
  

  Avel: this has been attributed to Grellet since at least 1893, though it is true that it does not appear in his published works, so there is some doubt.

  About Grellet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grellet
  About Brooks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Brooks

• Avel says:
  

  I think we should give credit to the original author of this… It came from Phillips Brooks… Thank you..

• metee says:
  

  I like to read poem but I can’t find the real meaning in this poem

• lynn says:
  

  I love reading it repeatedly. It’s really a very beautiful poem. Simple but complete.
  Thanks.

• alaaayman says:
  

  Great!
  alaaayman

• knette says:
  

  is this opportunity? =)

• hanane says:
  

  honestly i do not find the words to tell how nice to be kind to others,and they as well reward you with the same kindness.that is the best way “to pass throug this world.”

• vaishali says:
  

  it’s a beautiful poem and truly talks about kindness. I will surely share this message with everyone. Thanks!