William Cowper Quotes - Page 10

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• As if the world and they were hand and glove.

  William Cowper

  Hands, Hypocrisy, World

  William Cowper (1856). “The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative”, p.51

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• Oh, popular applause! what heart of man
  Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms?
  The wisest and the best feel urgent need
  Of all their caution in thy gentlest gales;
  But swell'd into a gust--who then, alas!
  With all his canvas set, and inexpert,
  And therefore, heedless, can withstand thy power?

  William Cowper

  Sweet, Heart, Men

  William Cowper, James Sambrook (2016). “William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems”, p.100, Routledge

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• But what is truth? 'Twas Pilate's question put
  To Truth itself, that deign'd him no reply.

  William Cowper

  Truth

  William Cowper (1856). “The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative”, p.186

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• The art of poetry is to touch the passions, and its duty to lead them on the side of virtue.

  William Cowper

  Art, Passion, Poetry

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• To see the Law by Christ fulfilled,
  And hear His pardoning voice
  Changes a slave into a child,
  And duty into choice.

  William Cowper

  Children, Law, Voice

  William Cowper (1874). “The poetical works of William Cowper, ed: with notes and biographical introd. by William Benham”, p.40

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• Some men make gain a fountain, whence proceeds
  A stream of liberal and heroic deeds;
  The swell of pity, not to be confined
  Within the scanty limits of the mind.

  William Cowper

  Men, Heroic Deeds, Mind

  William Cowper (1845). “The Poetical Works of William Cowper”, p.98

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

  William Cowper

  Peace, Made, Interest

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• All truth is precious, if not all divine; and what dilates the powers must needs refine.

  William Cowper

  Truth, Needs, Divine

  William Cowper (1855). “The complete poetical works of William Cowper, with life and critical notice of his writings”, p.75

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• The parson knows enough who knows a Duke.

  William Cowper

  Church, Dukes, Enough

  'Tirocinium' (1785) l. 403

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

  William Cowper

  Writing, Self, Long

  William Cowper (1856). “The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative”, p.233

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• The earth was made so various, that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change, And pleased with novelty, might be indulged.

  William Cowper

  Men, Mind, Earth

  William Cowper, Thomas Shuttleworth Grimshawe, John William Cunningham (1835). “The Life and Works of William Cowper: Now First Completed by the Introduction of His "Private Correspondence."”, p.240

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

  William Cowper

  Clerks, Sparks, Preaching

  William Cowper, John Smythe MEMES (1861). “The Letters of William Cowper. Edited by Rev. J. S. Memes. [With a Portrait.]”, p.82

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• All constraint, / Except what wisdom lays on evil men, / Is evil.

  William Cowper

  Men, Evil, Constraints

  William Cowper (1872). “The poetical works of William Cowper: Complete ed., with memoir, explanatory notes etc”, p.300

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• But slaves that once conceive the glowing thought Of freedom, in that hope itself possess All that the contest calls for; spirit, strength, The scorn of danger, and united hearts, The surest presage of the good they seek.

  William Cowper

  Heart, Glowing, Liberty

  William Cowper (1855). “The complete poetical works of William Cowper, with life and critical notice of his writings”, p.186

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• The things that mount the rostrum with a skip, And then skip down again, pronounce a text, Cry hem; and reading what they never wrote Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work, And with a well-bred whisper close the scene!

  William Cowper

  Reading, Hem, Fifteen

  William Cowper (1853). “The Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life ; Six Engravings on Steel”, p.140

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• He that negotiates between God and man, As God's ambassador, the grand concerns Of judgment and of mercy, should beware Of lightness in his speech.

  William Cowper

  Men, Speech, Ambassadors

  William Cowper (1855). “The complete poetical works of William Cowper, with life and critical notice of his writings”, p.141

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• For when was public virtue to be found
  Where private was not?

  William Cowper

  Liberty, Virtue, Found

  "The Life and Works of William Cowper: Now First Completed by the Introduction of His "Private Correspondence."".

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• Our love is principle, and has its root
  In reason, is judicious, manly, free.

  William Cowper

  Life, Love Is, Roots

  William Cowper (1830). “Poems ... With a sketch of his life and a vindication of his religious principles and character. Third edition, corrected and enlarged. [With a portrait.]”, p.247

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• Religion Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None as invincible as they.

  William Cowper

  Eagles, Flew, Invincible

  1782 Poems,'Boadicea: an Ode'.

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• Man in society is like a flow'r,
  Blown in its native bed. 'Tis there alone
  His faculties expanded in full bloom
  Shine out, there only reach their proper use.

  William Cowper

  Men, Shining, Society

  William Cowper, John MACDIARMID (Editor of the “Dumfries and Galloway Courier.”.) (1819). “Poems ... To which is prefixed, a memoir of the author; also, critical remarks on his poems, written expressly for this work. By John M'Diarmid. Second edition, revised and extended”, p.298

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• Twere better to be born a stone Of ruder shape, and feeling none, Than with a tenderness like mine And sensibilities so fine! Ah, hapless wretch! condemn'd to dwell Forever in my native shell, Ordained to move when others please, Not for my own content or ease; But toss'd and buffeted about, Now in the water and now out.

  William Cowper

  Moving, Oysters, Water

  William Cowper, William Hayley, John William Cunningham (1854). “The Works of William Cowper: His Life, Letters, and Poems ; Now First Completed by the Introduction of Cowper's Private Correspondence”, p.617

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• Pernicious weed! whose scent the fair annoys, Unfriendly to society's chief joys: Thy worst effect is banishing for hours The sex whose presence civilizes ours.

  William Cowper

  Weed, Sex, Joy

  William Cowper, Robert Southey, William Harvey (1835). “The Works of William Cowper, Comprising His Poems, Correspondence, and Translations”, p.163

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• Dejection of spirits, which may have prevented many a man from becoming an author, made me one. I find constant employment necessary, and therefore take care to be constantly employed. . . . When I can find no other occupation, I think; and when I think, I am very apt to do it in rhyme.

  William Cowper

  Men, Thinking, Care

  William Cowper (1853). “The Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life ; Six Engravings on Steel”, p.17

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• How fleet is a glance of the mind! Compared with the speed of its flight, The tempest itself lags behind, And the swift-winged arrows of light.

  William Cowper

  Light, Arrows, Mind

  William Cowper (1858). “Works of Cowper and Thomson”, p.114

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

  William Cowper

  Money, Lying, Names

  'Table Talk' (1782) l. 420 (Perjury)

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