Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die

Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die

Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die.

Theirs is not to make reply: Theirs is not to reason why: Theirs is but to do and die.

The shell must break before the bird can fly.

And so the Word had breath, and wrought/ With human hands the creed of creeds/ In loveliness of perfect deeds,/ More strong than all poetic thought.