And oh if there be an Elysium on earth,

It is this, it is this!

Thomas Moore (1779-1852): Lalla Rookh. The Light of the Harem.

Some said, "John, print it;" others said, "Not so."

Some said, "It might do good;" others said, "No."

John Bunyan (1628-1688): Pilgrim's Progress. Apology for his Book.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: "It might have been!"

John G Whittier (1807-892): Maud Muller.

It must be so,—Plato, thou reasonest well!

Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,

This longing after immortality?

Or whence this secret dread and inward horror

Of falling into naught? Why shrinks the soul

Back on herself, and startles at destruction?

'T is the divinity that stirs within us;

'T is Heaven itself that points out an hereafter,

And intimates eternity to man.

Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought!

Joseph Addison (1672-1719): Cato. Act v. Sc. 1.

'T were all one

That I should love a bright particular star,

And think to wed it.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): All's Well that Ends Well. Act i. Sc. 1.