5 Quotes & Sayings By Edmund Vance Cooke

Edmund Vance Cooke (1821-1909) was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of a slave and his master's daughter. The family moved to New Orleans in 1842. Their home was a "vacant lot" on 7th Street in the Faubourg Marigny district of New Orleans and they lived there for 10 years, during which time Cooke attended the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross and became a priest Read more

In 1854 he left the Jesuits and entered into a lifetime of wandering by moving to Canada and then to New York City. Cooke became a prolific writer but his writing was never popular. In 1869 he published one of his most beautiful poems, "The Cloud-Capped Star." In 1884 he published his autobiography, The Recollections Of A Catholic Gentleman, which is considered one of the finest books written from an African American point of view until that time.

For this book he was awarded a substantial prize by the New York Academy of Medicine.

1
How Did You Die?Did you tackle that trouble that came your way With a resolute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day With a craven soul and fearful? Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce, Or a trouble is what you make it. And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts, But only how did you take it? You are beaten to earth? Well, well what's that? Come up with a smiling face. It's nothing against you to fall down flat, But to lie there - that's disgrace. The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce; Be proud of your blackened eye! It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts; It's how did you fight and why? And though you be done to death, what then? If you battled the best you could; If you played your part in the world of men, Why the critic will call it good. Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce, And whether he's slow or spry, It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts, But only, how did you die? . Edmund Vance Cooke
2
You don't buy poetry. (Neither do I.)Why?You cannot afford it? Bosh! You spend Editions de luxe on a thirsty friend. You can buy any one of the poetry bunch For the price you pay for a business lunch. Don't you suppose that a hungry head, Like an empty stomach, ought to be fed? Looking into myself, I find this true, So I hardly can figure it false in you. Edmund Vance Cooke
3
Don't fight with the pillow but lay down your head And kick every worriment out of the bed. Edmund Vance Cooke
4
You are beaten to earth? Well well what's that? Come up with a smiling face it's nothing against you to fall down flat but to lie there - that's disgrace. Edmund Vance Cooke