Quote

A story, in which native humour reigns, Is often useful, always entertains A graver fact, enlisted on your side, May furnish illustration, well applied But sedentary weavers of long tales Give me the fidgets, and my patience fails.

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
Always
Facts
Useful
Reigns
Stories
Patience
Illustration
Give
Failing
Applied
Graver
May
Side
Fails
Entertains
Wells
Sides
Reign
Weavers
Well
Story
Humour
Enlisted
Giving
Fact
Native
Sedentary
Long
Often
Tales
Furnish

More quotes by William Cowper

Image
O Winter, ruler of the inverted year!
William Cowper
Image
God forbid that Judges upon their oath should make resolutions to enlarge jurisdiction.
William Cowper
Image
The kindest and the happiest pair Will find occasion to forbear And something, every day they live, To pity, and perhaps forgive.
William Cowper
Image
Call'd to the temple of impure delight He that abstains, and he alone, does right. If a wish wander that way, call it home He cannot long be safe whose wishes roam.
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
England with all thy faults, I love thee still-- My country! and, while yet a nook is left Where English minds and manners may be found, Shall be constrained to love thee.
William Cowper
Image
Whoever keeps an open ear For tattlers will be sure to hear The trumpet of contention.
William Cowper
Image
Our love is principle, and has its root In reason, is judicious, manly, free.
William Cowper
Image
Far happier are the dead methinks than they who look for death and fear it every day.
William Cowper
Image
Words learn'd by rote a parrot may rehearse, But talking is not always to converse, Not more distinct from harmony divine The constant creaking of a country sign.
William Cowper
Image
Pleasure is labour too, and tires as much.
William Cowper
Image
Time, as he passes us, has a dove's wing, Unsoil'd, and swift, and of a silken sound.
William Cowper
Image
Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have oft-times no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
William Cowper
Image
Some men make gain a fountain, whence proceeds A stream of liberal and heroic deeds The swell of pity, not to be confined Within the scanty limits of the mind.
William Cowper
Image
A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
William Cowper
Image
The rich are too indolent, the poor too weak, to bear the insupportable fatigue of thinking.
William Cowper
Image
Sends Nature forth the daughter of the skies... To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes.
William Cowper
Image
Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd.
William Cowper
Image
I seem forsaken and alone, / I hear the lion roar / And every door is shut but one, / And that is Mercy's door.
William Cowper
Image
Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.
William Cowper