Quote

At most, the greatest persons are but great wens, and excrescences men of wit and delightful conversation, but as morals for ornament, except they be so incorporated into the body of the world that they contribute something to the sustentation of the whole.

John Donne

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

John Donne
Died: 1631
Died: March 31
Lawyer
Pastor
Poet
Politician
Songwriter
Translator
Writer
London
England
Very Rev. John Donne
Body
Contribute
Persons
Delightful
Whole
Wit
Great
Greatness
Something
Except
Incorporated
Men
Conversation
Ornament
World
Greatest
Ornaments
Moral
Morals

More quotes by John Donne

Image
When my mouth shall be filled with dust, and the worm shall feed, and feed sweetly upon me, when the ambitious man shall have no satisfaction if the poorest alive tread upon him, nor the poorest receive any contentment in being made equal to princes, for they shall be equal but in dust.
John Donne
Image
But think that we Are but turned aside to sleep.
John Donne
Image
Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven.
John Donne
Image
This Extasie doth unperplex (We said) and tell us what we love, Wee see by this, it was not sexe, Wee see, we saw not what did move: But as all severall soules contain Mixture of things, they know not what, Love, these mixt souls, doth mixe againe. Loves mysteries in soules doe grow, But yet the body is his booke.
John Donne
Image
We love and understand talent we wish it be within us. The truly gifted, those exceptional few, must wait for the world to catch up.
John Donne
Image
Wicked is not much worse than indiscreet.
John Donne
Image
I would not that death should take me asleep. I would not have him merely seize me, and only declare me to be dead, but win me, and overcome me. When I must shipwreck, I would do it in a sea, where mine impotency might have some excuse not in a sullen weedy lake, where I could not have so much as exercise for my swimming.
John Donne
Image
I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I Did, till we loved? were we not weaned till then? But sucked on country pleasures, childishly? Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
John Donne
Image
Keep us, Lord, so awake in the duties of our calling that we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory.
John Donne
Image
The rich have no more of the kingdom of heaven than they have purchased of the poor by their alms.
John Donne
Image
Man hath weaved out a net, and this net throwne upon the Heavens, and now they are his own.
John Donne
Image
Who are a little wise the best fools be.
John Donne
Image
Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you As yet but knock breathe, shine, and seek to mend That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
John Donne
Image
The Phoenix riddle hath more wit By us, we two being one, are it. So to one neutral thing both sexes fit, We die and rise the same, and prove Mysterious by this love.
John Donne
Image
When I died last, and, Dear, I die As often as from thee I go Though it be but an hour ago, And lovers' hours be full eternity.
John Donne
Image
Poor intricated soul! Riddling, perplexed, labyrinthical soul!
John Donne
Image
Let man's soul be a sphere, and then, in this, The intelligence that moves, devotion is.
John Donne
Image
When God's hand is bent to strike, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but to fall out of the hands of the living God is a horror beyond our expression, beyond our imagination.
John Donne
Image
Twice or thrice had I loved thee before I knew thy face or name, so in a voice, so in a shapeless flame, angels affect us oft, and worshiped be.
John Donne
Image
At the round earth's imagined corners, blow your trumpets, angels.
John Donne