Quote

For a young and presumptuous poet a disposition to write satires is one of the most dangerous he can encourage. It tempts him to personalities, which are not always forgiven after he has repented and become ashamed of them.

Robert Southey

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Robert Southey
Age: 68 †
Born: 1774
Born: August 12
Died: 1843
Died: March 21
Biographer
Historian
Poet
Politician
Translator
Writer
Bristol
Gloucestershire
Robert Southey
Personality
Tempts
Poet
Presumptuous
Dangerous
Personalities
Write
Satire
Become
Disposition
Young
Forgiven
Writing
Encourage
Satires
Always
Ashamed
Repented

More quotes by Robert Southey

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There was a time when I believed in the persuadability of man, and had the mania of man-mending. Experience has taught me better. The ablest physician can do little in the great lazar-house of society. He acts the wisest part who retires from the contagion.
Robert Southey
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You are old, Father William, the young man cried, The few locks which are left you are gray You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man,- Now tell me the reason I pray.
Robert Southey
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The solitary Bee Whose buzzing was the only sound of life, Flew there on restless wing, Seeking in vain one blossom where to fix.
Robert Southey
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Three things a wise man will not trust, The wind, the sunshine of an April day, And woman's plighted faith.
Robert Southey
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Cold is thy hopeless heart, even as charity.
Robert Southey
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Cupid the little greatest god.
Robert Southey
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From his brimstone bed, at break of day, A-walking the Devil is gone, To look at his little snug farm of the World, And see how his stock went on.
Robert Southey
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In the days of my youth I remembered my God! And He hath not forgotten my age.
Robert Southey
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It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment. He is born to hopes and aspirations as the sparks fly upward, unless he has brutalized his nature and quenched the spirit of immortality which is his portion.
Robert Southey
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What will not woman, gentle woman dare when strong affection stirs her spirit up?
Robert Southey
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O Reader! hast thou eer stood to see The Holly-tree? The eye that contemplates it well perceies Its glossy leaes Ordered by an Intelligence so wise As might confound the Atheist's sophistries.
Robert Southey
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The grave is but the threshold of eternity. What a world were this, how unendurable its weight, If they whom death hath sundered, did not meet again!
Robert Southey
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My days among the dead are passed Around me I behold, Where'er these casual eyes are cast, The mighty minds of old My never-failing friends are they, With whom I converse day by day.
Robert Southey
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It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment.
Robert Southey
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The history of any private family, however humble, could it be fully related for five or six generations, would illustrate the state and progress of society better than the most elaborate dissertation.
Robert Southey
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Thou hast been called, O sleep, the friend of woe, But 'tis the happy that have called thee so.
Robert Southey
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Live as long as you may, the first twenty years are the longest half of your life.
Robert Southey
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I cannot believe in an eternity of hell. I hope God will forgive me if I err but in this matter I cannot say, Lord help my unbelief.
Robert Southey
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Be thankful that your lot has fallen on times when, though there may be many evil tongues and exasperated spirits, there are none who have fire and fagot at command.
Robert Southey
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And when my own Mark Antony Against young Caesar strove, And Rome's whole world was set in arms, The cause was,--all for love.
Robert Southey