Abraham Cowley Quotes

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Life is an incurable disease.

Abraham Cowley

Life, Success, Disease

"To Dr. Scarborough" l. 111 (1656)

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For the whole world, without a native home, Is nothing but a prison of larger room.

Abraham Cowley

Home, World, Rooms

Abraham Cowley (1779). “The Poems of Cowley”, p.113

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Nothing is there to come, and nothing past,
But an eternal Now does always last.

Abraham Cowley

Time, Past, Doe

Abraham Cowley (1679). “The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley: Consisting of Those which Were Formerly Printed : and Those which He Design'd for the Press”, p.11

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Of all ills that one endures, hope is a cheap and universal cure.

Abraham Cowley

Hope, Healing, Cures

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I never had any other desire so strong, and so like covetousness, as that ... I might be master at last of a small house and a large garden, with very moderate conveniences joined to them, and there dedicate the remainder of my life to the culture of them and the study of nature.

Abraham Cowley

Life, Nature, Strong

Abraham Cowley, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Poems of Abraham Cowley”, p.152

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Hope is the most hopeless thing of all.

Abraham Cowley

Hopeless

Abraham Cowley, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Poems of Abraham Cowley”, p.50

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Build yourself a book-nest to forget the world without.

Abraham Cowley

Book, World, Nests

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I would not fear nor wish my fate, but boldly say each night, to-morrow let my sun his beams display, or in clouds hide them; I have lived today.

Abraham Cowley

Fate, Night, Clouds

Abraham Cowley, “A Vote (Excerpt)”

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To-day is ours; what do we fear?
To-day is ours; we have it here.
Let's treat it kindly, that it may
Wish, at least, with us to stay.
Let's banish business, banish sorrow;
To the gods belong to-morrow.

Abraham Cowley

Sorrow, Wish, May

Abraham Cowley (1679). “The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley: Consisting of Those which Were Formerly Printed : and Those which He Design'd for the Press”

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Nothing so soon the drooping spirits can raise As praises from the men, whom all men praise.

Abraham Cowley

Encouragement, Hard Work, Spirit

'Ode upon a Copy of Verses of My Lord Broghill's' (1663)

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Gold begets in brethren hate; Gold in families debate; Gold does friendship separate; Gold does civil wars create.

Abraham Cowley

Hate, War, Gold

Abraham Cowley (1721). “([2], lxviii, 372 p.)”, p.44

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A mighty pain to love it is,
And 'tis a pain that pain to miss;
But, of all pains, the greatest pain
Is to love, but love in vain.

Abraham Cowley

Love, Life, Pain

Abraham Cowley, Thomas Sprat (1707). “The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley ...: Consisting of Those which Were Formerly Printed; and Those which He Design'd for the Press, Publish'd Out of the Author's Original Copies. With The Cutter of Coleman-street”, p.55

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God the first garden made, and the first city Cain.

Abraham Cowley

Garden, Cities, Cain

"The Garden" l. 44 (1668) See Cowper 5

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The liberty of a people consists in being governed by laws which they have made themselves, under whatsoever form it be of government; the liberty of a private man, in being master of his own time and actions, as far as may consist with the laws of God and of his country.

Abraham Cowley

Country, Men, Law

Abraham Cowley, Abraham Cowley, Etc, A. R. Waller (2014). “Essays, Plays and Sundry Verses”, p.377, Cambridge University Press

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May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, And many books, both true.

Abraham Cowley

Book, Garden, House

Abraham Cowley, A. R. Waller (2014). “Poems”, p.88, Cambridge University Press

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The getting out of doors is the greatest part of the journey.

Abraham Cowley

Journey, Doors

Abraham Cowley, Thomas Sprat (1710). “The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley ...: Consisting of Those which Were Formerly Printed, and Those which He Design'd for the Press, Publish'd Out of the Author's Original Copies ; with The Cutter of Coleman-street”, p.179

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Man is too near all kinds of beasts,--a fawning dog, a roaring lion, a thieving fox, a robbing wolf, a dissembling crocodile, a treacherous decoy, and a rapacious vulture.

Abraham Cowley

Dog, Men, Roaring

Abraham Cowley, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Poems of Abraham Cowley ...”

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Curiosity does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make.

Abraham Cowley

Curiosity, Doe, Devotion

Abraham Cowley, A. R. Waller (2014). “Poems”, p.413, Cambridge University Press

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Unbind the charms that in slight fables lie and teach that truth is truest poesy.

Abraham Cowley

Lying, Fiction, Fables

Abraham Cowley, Samuel Johnson (1822). “The Poems of Abraham Cowley ...”, p.161

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Come, my best Friends! my Books! and lead me on.

Abraham Cowley

Book, My Best Friend, Leading Me

"The Poetical Works of Abraham Cowley".

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Why dost thou heap up wealth, which thou must quit,
Or what is worse, be left by it?
Why dost thou load thyself when thou 'rt to fly,
Oh, man! ordain'd to die?
Why dost thou build up stately rooms on high,
Thou who art under ground to lie?
Thou sow'st and plantest, but no fruit must see,
For death, alas! is reaping thee.

Abraham Cowley

Art, Lying, Men

Abraham Cowley, Thomas Sprat (1826). “Prose works of Abraham Cowley ; including his essays in prose and verse”, p.217

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Enjoy the present hour, Be thankful for the past, And neither fear nor wish Th' approaches of the last.

Abraham Cowley

Time, Past, Being Thankful

Abraham Cowley (2013). “Cowley's Essays”, p.114, Cambridge University Press

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Fill the bowl with rosy wine, around our temples roses twine, And let us cheerfully awhile, like wine and roses, smile.

Abraham Cowley

Wine, Rose, Temples

Abraham Cowley (1784). “The Poetical Works of Abraham Cowley ...”, p.245

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Stones of small worth may lie unseen by day, But night itself does the rich gem betray.

Abraham Cowley

Lying, Night, Jewels

Abraham Cowley (1806). “The Works ... Re-edited. - London, G. Kearsley 1806”, p.261

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Thus would I double my life's fading space;For he that runs it well, runs twice his race.

Abraham Cowley

Running, Space, Race

Abraham Cowley, T. Sprat (1721). “Poems and other pieces published by the late Lord Bishop of Rochester; with some account of his life and writings”, p.719

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Born: 1618
Died: July 28, 1667
Occupation: Poet
Cite this Page: Citation

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