Quote

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

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Abraham Cowley
Age: 49 †
Born: 1618
Born: January 1
Died: 1667
Died: July 28
Essayist
Playwright
Poet
Prosaist
the City
Government
Actions
May
Private
Country
Laws
Made
Masters
Consist
Men
Liberty
Governed
Time
Law
Whatsoever
People
Action
Consists
Form
Master

More quotes by Abraham Cowley

Image
Nothing is there to come, and nothing past, But an eternal Now does always last.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Unbind the charms that in slight fables lie and teach that truth is truest poesy.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Books should, not Business, entertain the Light And Sleep, as undisturb'd as Death, the Night.
Abraham Cowley
Image
This only grant me, that my means may lie, too low for envy, for contempt to high.
Abraham Cowley
Image
s a scene of changes, and to be constant in Nature were inconstancy.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave, May I a small House and a large Garden have. And a few Friends, and many Books both true, Both wise, and both delightful too. And since Love ne'er will from me flee, A mistress moderately fair, And good as Guardian angels are, Only belov'd and loving me.
Abraham Cowley
Image
His time's forever, everywhere his place.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Build yourself a book-nest to forget the world without.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Ah! Wretched and too solitary he who loves not his own company.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Acquaintance I would have, but when it depends not on number, but the choice of friends.
Abraham Cowley
Image
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
Image
Does not the passage of Moses and the Israelites into the Holy Land yield incomparably more poetic variety than the voyages of Ulysses or Aeneas?
Abraham Cowley
Image
May I a small house and large garden have And a few friends, And many books, both true.
Abraham Cowley
Image
It is a hard and nice subject for a man to speak of himself: it grates his own heart to say anything of disparagement, and the reader's ear to hear anything of praise from him.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Hope is the most hopeless thing of all.
Abraham Cowley
Image
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
Image
Nothing so soon the drooping spirits can raise As praises from the men, whom all men praise.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Who that has reason, and his smell, Would not among roses and jasmin dwell?
Abraham Cowley
Image
All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Neither the praise nor the blame is our own.
Abraham Cowley