William Cowper Quotes

In a fleshly tomb, I am buried above ground.

The Cross! There, and there only (though the deist rave, and the atheist, if Earth bears so base a slave); There and there only, is the power to save.

It is a general rule of Judgment, that a mischief should rather be admitted than an inconvenience.

How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home.

Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay.

Remorse begets reform.

He that has seen both sides of fifty has lived to little purpose if he has no other views of the world than he had when he was much younger.

Unmissed but by his dogs and by his groom.

Be it a weakness, it deserves some praise, We love the play-place of our early days; The scene is touching, and the heart is stone, That feels not at that sight, and feels at none.

Lived in his saddle, loved the chase, the course, And always, ere he mounted, kiss'd his horse.

But animated nature sweeter still, to soothe and satisfy the human ear.

What is it but a map of busy life, Its fluctuations, and its vast concerns?

The man that hails you Tom or Jack, and proves by thumps upon your back how he esteems your merit, is such a friend, that one had need be very much his friend indeed to pardon or to bear it.

When from soft love proceeds the deep distress, ah! why forbid the willing tears to flow?

In the vast, and the minute, we see The unambiguous footsteps of the God, Who gives its lustre to an insect's wing And wheels His throne upon the rolling worlds.

No tree in all the grove but has its charms, Though each its hue peculiar.

No wild enthusiast could rest, till half the world like him was possessed.

Some to the fascination of a name, Surrender judgment hoodwinked.

And diff'ring judgments serve but to declare that truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where.

For 'tis a truth well known to most, That whatsoever thing is lost, We seek it, ere it comes to light, In every cranny but the right.

Call'd to the temple of impure delight He that abstains, and he alone, does right. If a wish wander that way, call it home; He cannot long be safe whose wishes roam.

Mountains interposed Make enemies of nations, who had else Like kindred drops been mingled into one.

Th' embroid'ry of poetic dreams.

Though peace be made, yet it's interest that keep peace.

Transforms old print To zigzag manuscript, and cheats the eyes Of gallery critics by a thousand arts.

There goes the parson, oh illustrious spark! And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk.

The man that dares traduce, because he can with safety to himself, is not a man.

Religion, richest favor of the skies.

Where thou art gone, adieus and farewells are a sound unknown.

Fancy, like the finger of a clock, Runs the great circuit, and is still at home.

Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, To turn a penny in the way of trade.

Good sense, good health, good conscience, and good fame,--all these belong to virtue, and all prove that virtue has a title to your love.

A Christian's wit is offensive light, A beam that aids, but never grieves the sight; Vig'rous in age as in the flush of youth, 'Tis always active on the side of truth.

The few that pray at all pray oft amiss.

He that runs may read.

Then liberty, like day, Breaks on the soul, and by a flash from Heaven Fires all the faculties with glorious joy.

As if the world and they were hand and glove.

But poverty, with most who whimper forth Their long complaints, is self-inflicted woe; The effect of laziness, or sottish write.

Where penury is felt the thought is chain'd, And sweet colloquial pleasures are but few.

The parson knows enough who knows a Duke.

A teacher should be sparing of his smile.

Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appear'd, And ages ere the Mantuan swan was heard: To carry nature lengths unknown before, To give a Milton birth, ask'd ages more.

Religion does not censure or exclude Unnumbered pleasures, harmlessly pursued.

Without one friend, above all foes, Britannia gives the world repose.

I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.

Far happier are the dead methinks than they who look for death and fear it every day.

That good diffused may more abundant grow.

If hindrances obstruct the way, Thy magnanimity display. And let thy strength be seen: But O, if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale, Take half thy canvas in.

To trace in Nature's most minute design The signature and stamp of power divine. ... The Invisible in things scarce seen revealed, To whom an atom is an ample field.

Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd.