Quote

But slaves that once conceive the glowing thought Of freedom, in that hope itself possess All that the contest calls for spirit, strength, The scorn of danger, and united hearts, The surest presage of the good they seek.

William Cowper

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William Cowper
Age: 68 †
Born: 1731
Born: November 26
Died: 1800
Died: April 25
Hymnwriter
Poet
Poet Lawyer
Translator
Writer
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
Liberty
Slaves
Freedom
Possess
Presage
United
Calls
Surest
Hope
Slave
Contest
Spirit
Hearts
Glowing
Thought
Seek
Contests
Heart
Danger
Conceive
Good
Strength
Scorn

More quotes by William Cowper

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We sacrifice to dress till household joys and comforts cease. Dress drains our cellar dry, and keeps our larder lean.
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When from soft love proceeds the deep distress, ah! why forbid the willing tears to flow?
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Th' embroid'ry of poetic dreams.
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When nations are to perish in their sins, 'tis in the Church the leprosy begins.
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To impute our recovery to medicine, and to carry our view no further, is to rob God of His honor, and is saying in effect that He has parted with the keys of life and death, and, by giving to a drug the power to heal us, has placed our lives out of His own reach.
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An idler is a watch that wants both hands As useless if it goes as when it stands.
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Philologists, who chase A painting syllable through time and space Start it at home, and hunt it in the dark, To Gaul, to Greece, and into Noah's Ark.
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Ten thousand casks, Forever dribbling out their base contents, Touch'd by the Midas finger of the state, Bleed gold for ministers to sport away. Drink, and be mad then 'tis your country bids!
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He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves besides.
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The innocent seldom find an uncomfortable pillow.
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Slaves cannot breathe in England if their lungs Receive our air, that moment they are free They touch our country, and their shackles fall.
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Forced from home, and all its pleasures, afric coast I left forlorn to increase a stranger's treasures, o the raging billows borne. Men from England bought and sold me, paid my price in paltry gold but, though theirs they have enroll'd me, minds are never to be sold.
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Necessity invented stools, Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs, And luxury the accomplish'd Sofa last.
William Cowper
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Is base in kind, and born to be a slave.
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Pleasure is labour too, and tires as much.
William Cowper
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Knowledge is proud that it knows so much wisdom is humble that it knows no more.
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The man that dares traduce, because he can with safety to himself, is not a man.
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But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.
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In man or woman, but far most in man, And most of all in man that ministers, And serves the altar, in my soul I loathe All affectation. 'Tis my perfect scorn: Object of my implacable disgust.
William Cowper
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The fall of waters and the song of birds, And hills that echo to the distant berds, Are luxuries excelling all the glare The world can boast, and her chief favorites share.
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