Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
There is some help for all the defects of fortune for, if a man cannot attain to the length of his wishes, he may have his remedy by cutting of them shorter.
Abraham Cowley
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
TAGS & TOPICS
Abraham Cowley
Age: 49 †
Born: 1618
Born: January 1
Died: 1667
Died: July 28
Essayist
Playwright
Poet
Prosaist
the City
May
Wishes
Men
Length
Fortune
Cutting
Shorter
Help
Defects
Wish
Attain
Helping
Remedy
Cannot
Contentment
More quotes by Abraham Cowley
Much will always wanting be To him who much desires.
Abraham Cowley
As for being much known by sight, and pointed out, I cannot comprehend the honor that lies withal whatsoever it be, every mountebank has it more than the best doctor.
Abraham Cowley
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
All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.
Abraham Cowley
Sleep is a god too proud to wait in palaces, and yet so humble too as not to scorn the meanest country cottages.
Abraham Cowley
Acquaintance I would have, but when it depends not on number, but the choice of friends.
Abraham Cowley
The getting out of doors is the greatest part of the journey.
Abraham Cowley
Curiosity does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make.
Abraham Cowley
Unbind the charms that in slight fables lie and teach that truth is truest poesy.
Abraham Cowley
Nothing so soon the drooping spirits can raise As praises from the men, whom all men praise.
Abraham Cowley
All this world's noise appears to me a dull, ill-acted comedy!
Abraham Cowley
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
This only grant me, that my means may lie, too low for envy, for contempt to high.
Abraham Cowley
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
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
What a brave privilege is it to be free from all contentions, from all envying or being envied, from receiving or paying all kinds of ceremonies!
Abraham Cowley
May I a small house and large garden have And a few friends, And many books, both true.
Abraham Cowley
Thus would I double my life's fading spaceFor he that runs it well, runs twice his race.
Abraham Cowley
Vain, weak-built isthmus, which dost proudly rise Up between two eternities!
Abraham Cowley
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
