Onward and upward

Posted by ESC on June 11, 2006

In Reply to: Onward and upward posted by Mandy Boswell on June 10, 2006

: Does anyone know who coined the phrase "onward and upward" and when it first came in to use?

ONWARD AND UPWARD - "We must continue to advance, to improve." The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Wings Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985) credits "The Present Crisis" by James Russell Lowell for this phrase.
Bartleby.com:
James Russell Lowell. 1819-1891
128. The Present Crisis
.New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future's portal with the Past's blood-rusted key.

The whole poem is online at www.bartleby.com

• Onward and upward Smokey Stover 11/June/06
  • Per ardua ad astra Lewis 12/June/06
    • Per ardua ad astra Smokey Stover 12/June/06