Henry Jackson van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman. He was a short-story writer, poet, and essayist famous in the early decades of the 20th century.
Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, van Dyke graduated from the Princeton theological seminary in 1877. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Brooklyn in 1879. He served as pastor at churches in Rhode Island and New York City until 1900, when he returned to Princeton as a professor of English literature, serving until 1923. From 1913–17, he served as the American minister to the Netherlands.
Van Dyke’s early works, moralistic essays such as The Story of the Other Wise Man (1896) and The First Christmas Tree (1897,) were first read aloud to his congregations as sermons. These quickly brought him recognition. He also wrote such essays on outdoor life as Little Rivers (1895) and Fisherman’s Luck (1899.)
Other stories and anecdotal tales were gathered at regular intervals into volumes. Among these collections were The Ruling Passion (1901,) The Blue Flower (1902,) The Unknown Quantity (1912,) The Valley of Vision (1919,) and The Golden Key (1926.)
Van Dyke’s popularity also extended to his verse, collected in Poems (1920.)
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In the progress of personality, first comes a declaration of independence, then a recognition of interdependence.
—Henry van Dyke Jr.
Topics: Friendship
The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride; the threshold high enough to turn deceit aside; the door-band strong enough from robbers to defend: this door will open at a touch to welcome every friend.
—Henry van Dyke Jr.
Topics: Friendship
Half of the secular unrest and dismal, profane sadness of modern society comes from the vain ideas that every man is bound to be a critic for life.
—Henry van Dyke Jr.
Topics: Critics, Criticism
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
—Henry van Dyke Jr.
Topics: Birds, Talent
Be glad of life because it gives you to chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
—Henry van Dyke Jr.
Topics: Living, Blessings, Life and Living, Stars, Life
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