Quote

Solitude can be used well by very few people. They who do must have a knowledge of the world to see the foolishness of it, and enough virtue to despise all the vanity.

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
Wells
Well
Foolishness
Enough
Despise
Must
Vanity
World
Solitude
People
Virtue
Knowledge
Used

More quotes by Abraham Cowley

Image
Why to mute fish should'st thou thyself discoverAnd not to me, thy no less silent lover?
Abraham Cowley
Image
Much will always wanting be To him who much desires.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Stones of small worth may lie unseen by day, But night itself does the rich gem betray.
Abraham Cowley
Image
The Sunflow'r, thinking 'twas for him foul shame To nap by daylight, strove t' excuse the blame It was not sleep that made him nod, he said, But too great weight and largeness of his head.
Abraham Cowley
Image
The present is all the ready money Fate can give.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Curs'd be that wretch (Death's factor sure) who brought Dire swords into the peaceful world, and taught Smiths (who before could only make The spade, the plough-share, and the rake) Arts, in most cruel wise Man's left to epitomize!
Abraham Cowley
Image
Unbind the charms that in slight fables lie and teach that truth is truest poesy.
Abraham Cowley
Image
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
Image
His time's forever, everywhere his place.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Who that has reason, and his smell, Would not among roses and jasmin dwell?
Abraham Cowley
Image
What shall I do to be for ever known, And make the age to come my own?
Abraham Cowley
Image
Enjoy the present hour, Be thankful for the past, And neither fear nor wish Th' approaches of the last.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Plenty, as well as Want, can separate 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
Books should, not Business, entertain the Light And Sleep, as undisturb'd as Death, the Night.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Nay, in death's hand, the grape-stone proves As strong as thunder is in Jove's.
Abraham Cowley
Image
The world's a scene of changes.
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
Thus would I double my life's fading spaceFor he that runs it well, runs twice his race.
Abraham Cowley
Image
Happy insect! what can be In happiness compared to thee? Fed with nourishment divine, The dewy morning's gentle wine! Nature waits upon thee still, And thy verdant cup does fill 'Tis fill'd wherever thou dost tread, Nature's self's thy Ganymede.
Abraham Cowley