Quote

Great offices will have great talents, and God gives to every man the virtue, temper, understanding, taste, that lifts him into life, and lets him fall just in the niche he was ordained to fill.

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
Understanding
Temper
Fall
Lifts
Giving
Fill
Great
Office
Ordained
Every
Taste
Offices
Men
Gives
Niche
Life
Talent
Lets
Virtue
Talents

More quotes by William Cowper

Image
Mountains interposed Make enemies of nations, who had else Like kindred drops been mingled into one.
William Cowper
Image
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
Image
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.
William Cowper
Image
God never meant that man should scale the Heavens By strides of human wisdom. In his works, Though wondrous, he commands us in his word To seek him rather where his mercy shines.
William Cowper
Image
Made poetry a mere mechanic art.
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
I pity bashful men, who feel the pain Of fancied scorn and undeserved disdain, And bear the marks upon a blushing face, OF needless shame, and self-impos'd disgrace.
William Cowper
Image
Ye therefore who love mercy, teach your sons to love it, too.
William Cowper
Image
The man that hails you Tom or Jack, and proves by thumps upon your back how he esteems your merit, is such a friend, that one had need be very much his friend indeed to pardon or to bear it.
William Cowper
Image
No wisdom that she may gain by experience and reflection hereafter, will compensate the loss of her present hilarity.
William Cowper
Image
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.
William Cowper
Image
Riches have wings, and grandeur is a dream.
William Cowper
Image
Necessity invented stools, Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs, And luxury the accomplish'd Sofa last.
William Cowper
Image
If hindrances obstruct the way, Thy magnanimity display. And let thy strength be seen: But O, if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale, Take half thy canvas in.
William Cowper
Image
No traveler e'er reached that blest abode who found not thorns and briers in his road.
William Cowper
Image
We turn to dust, and all our mightiest works die too.
William Cowper
Image
Some people are more nice than wise.
William Cowper
Image
Remorse, the fatal egg by pleasure laid, In every bosom where her nest is made, Hatched by the beams of truth, denies him rest, And proves a raging scorpion in his breast.
William Cowper
Image
Good sense, good health, good conscience, and good fame,--all these belong to virtue, and all prove that virtue has a title to your love.
William Cowper
Image
The darkest day, if you live till tomorrow, will have passed away.
William Cowper