United States Postal Service creed
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" is a phrase long associated with the American
The phrase's association with the U.S. Mail originated with its inscription on
The phrase derives from a passage in George Herbert Palmer's translation of Herodotus' Histories, referring to the courier service of the ancient Persian Empire:
λέγουσι γὰρ ὡς ὁσέων ἂν ἡμερέων ᾖ ἡ πᾶσα ὁδός, τοσοῦτοι ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες διεστᾶσι κατὰ ἡμερησίην ὁδὸν ἑκάστην ἵππος τε καὶ ἀνὴρ τεταγμένος: τοὺς οὔτε νιφετός, οὐκ ὄμβρος, οὐ καῦμα, οὐ νὺξ ἔργει μὴ οὐ κατανύσαι τὸν προκείμενον αὐτῷ δρόμον τὴν ταχίστην. |
It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.[5] |
This slogan is not a formal commitment, and in fact the USPS may delay mail during bad weather.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
The creed was famously recited by artist Laurie Anderson on her 1981 hit single "O Superman (For Massenet)", which was featured on her debut album Big Science (1982).[13][14]
References
- ^
- "Postal Service Mission and 'Motto'" (PDF). About. United States Postal Service.
- "About that motto". U.S. Postal Facts. United States Postal Service. March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ "History of the United States Postal Service". Mailbox Near Me. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ "Postal Service Mission and "Motto"" (PDF). United States Postal Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2022.
- ^ "FAQs". National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution. 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- Perseus Project. Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- usps.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- usps.com. December 2, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
A chart with delivery standards based on the class of mail, when your carrier or mail will arrive, and what to do if mail or periodicals are considered late.
- usps.com. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- usps.com. February 8, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- cbsnews.com. February 26, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "USPS says winter weather to blame for recent mail delays in Indy, local union says it's more than that". WXIN. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- facebook.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"". web.ics.purdue.edu. Purdue University. Retrieved December 9, 2023.