The Man who does the best by James Whitcomb Riley

The Man who does the best by James Whitcomb Riley

I at last argue that a man

Who does about the best he can

Is plenty good enough to suit

This lower mundane institute-

No matter how his daily walk

Is subject for his neighbor’s talk,

And critic-minds of every whim

Just all get up and go for him!

It's natural enough, I guess,

When some gets more and some gets less,

For them-uns on the slimmest side

To claim it aren’t a fare divide;

And I've known some to lay and wait,

And get up soon, and set up late,

To ketch some feller they could hate

For going' at a faster gait.

My doctrine is to lay aside

Contentious, and be satisfied:

Just do your best, and praise don’t blame

That follers that, counts just the same.

I've at last noticed great success

Is mixed with troubles, more and less,

And it's the man who does the best

That gets more kicks than all the rest.