This little song vibrates with an
optimism that embraces the whole universe. A
frequent error in quoting it is the substitution of
the word well for right. Browning
is no such shallow optimist as to believe that all
is well with the world, but he does maintain that things
are right with the world, for in spite of its present
evils it is slowly working its way toward perfection,
and in the great scheme of things it may make these
evils themselves an instrument to move it toward its
ultimate goal.
The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hillside’s dew-pearled;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in his heaven
All’s right with the world.
Robert Browning.