Quote

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.

William Cowper

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

William Cowper
Age: 68 †
Born: 1731
Born: November 26
Died: 1800
Died: April 25
Hymnwriter
Poet
Poet Lawyer
Translator
Writer
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
Mistake
Reasoning
Known
Rarely
Every
Intuition
Way
Leads
Treads
Things
Instinct
Meaner
Men
Mistakes
Chakra
Step
Stray
Steps
Whilst

More quotes by William Cowper

Image
A noisy man is always in the right.
William Cowper
Image
Dejection of spirits, which may have prevented many a man from becoming an author, made me one. I find constant employment necessary, and therefore take care to be constantly employed. . . . When I can find no other occupation, I think and when I think, I am very apt to do it in rhyme.
William Cowper
Image
Man in society is like a flow'r, Blown in its native bed. 'Tis there alone His faculties expanded in full bloom Shine out, there only reach their proper use.
William Cowper
Image
Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.
William Cowper
Image
And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the book's outside, who ne'er look'd within?
William Cowper
Image
Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint Yet I love thee and adore, Oh for grace to love thee more!
William Cowper
Image
They fix attention, heedless of your pain, With oaths like rivets forced into the brain And e'en when sober truth prevails throughout, They swear it, till affirmance breeds a doubt.
William Cowper
Image
The man that dares traduce, because he can with safety to himself, is not a man.
William Cowper
Image
Manner is all in all, whate'er is writ,The substitute for genius, sense, and wit.
William Cowper
Image
Fanaticism, the false fire of an overheated mind.
William Cowper
Image
I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fire-side enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb'd retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted ev'ning, know.
William Cowper
Image
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart he does not feel for man.
William Cowper
Image
But what is truth? 'Twas Pilate's question put To Truth itself, that deign'd him no reply.
William Cowper
Image
Riches have wings, and grandeur is a dream.
William Cowper
Image
Misery still delights to trace Its semblance in another's case.
William Cowper
Image
Scenes must be beautiful which daily view'd Please daily, and whose novelty survives Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years.
William Cowper
Image
Religion, if in heavenly truths attired, Needs only to be seen to be admired.
William Cowper
Image
How various his employments whom the world Calls idle and who justly in return Esteems that busy world an idler too!
William Cowper
Image
Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay.
William Cowper
Image
I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute, From the centre all round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
William Cowper