"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 Americanpostal worker. Though not an officialcreed ormotto of theUnited States Postal Service,[1] the Postal Service does acknowledge it as an informal motto[2] along with a slightly revised version ofCharles W. Eliot's poem "The Letter".[3]
The phrase's association with the U.S. Mail originated with its inscription onNew York City'sJames A. Farley Post Office Building, which opened in 1914.[4] The inscription was added to the building byWilliam M. Kendall of the architectural firm ofMcKim, Mead & White, the building's architects.
The phrase derives from a passage inGeorge Herbert Palmer's translation ofHerodotus'sHistories, referring to thecourier service of the ancientPersian 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]
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.