Quote

A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship's finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.

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
Friendship
Jest
Feeling
Thrust
Scruple
Free
Breast
Repartee
Feelings
Wounded
Dagger
Way
Finest
Renowned
Make
Breasts
Balm
Men
Seldom
Scruples
Healing
Daggers

More quotes by William Cowper

Image
The spleen is seldom felt where Flora reigns The low'ring eye, the petulance, the frown, And sullen sadness, that o'ershade, distort, And mar the face of beauty, when no cause For such immeasurable woe appears These Flora banishes, and gives the fair Sweet smiles, and bloom less transient than her own.
William Cowper
Image
My soul is sick with every day's report of wrong and outrage with which earth is filled.
William Cowper
Image
Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break, With blessings on your head
William Cowper
Image
A teacher should be sparing of his smile.
William Cowper
Image
A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.
William Cowper
Image
That good diffused may more abundant grow.
William Cowper
Image
Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, Rock'd in the cradle of the western breeze.
William Cowper
Image
But poverty, with most who whimper forth Their long complaints, is self-inflicted woe The effect of laziness, or sottish write.
William Cowper
Image
For 'tis a truth well known to most, That whatsoever thing is lost, We seek it, ere it comes to light, In every cranny but the right.
William Cowper
Image
... she, that will with kittens jest, Should bear a kitten's joke.
William Cowper
Image
Learning itself, received into a mind By nature weak, or viciously inclined, Serves but to lead philosophers astray, Where children would with ease discern the way.
William Cowper
Image
Did Charity prevail, the press would prove A vehicle of virtue, truth, and love.
William Cowper
Image
The dogs did bark, the children screamed, Up flew the windows all And every soul bawled out, Well done! As loud as he could bawl.
William Cowper
Image
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home.
William Cowper
Image
Absence of occupation is not rest A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
William Cowper
Image
There is mercy in every place. And mercy, encouraging thought gives even affliction a grace and reconciles man to his lot.
William Cowper
Image
They best can judge a poet's worth, Who oft themselves have known The pangs of a poetic birth By labours of their own.
William Cowper
Image
Lights of the world, and stars of human race.
William Cowper
Image
How readily we wish time spent revoked, that we might try the ground again where once--through inexperience, as we now perceive--we missed that happiness we might have found!
William Cowper
Image
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