Quote

The slaves of custom and established mode, With pack-horse constancy we keep the road Crooked or straight, through quags or thorny dells, True to the jingling of our leader's bells.

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
Keep
Bells
Dell
True
Customs
Constancy
Established
Custom
Straight
Crooked
Slave
Pack
Road
Packs
Horse
Mode
Jingling
Leader
Slaves
Thorny

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[My kitten] is dressed in a tortoise-shell suit, and I know you will delight in her.
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My soul is sick with every day's report of wrong and outrage with which earth is filled.
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Events of all sorts creep or fly exactly as God pleases.
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Pleasure is labour too, and tires as much.
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A life all turbulence and noise may seem To him that leads it wise and to be praised, But wisdom is a pearl with most success Sought in still waters.
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Thus happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.
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If my resolution to be a great man was half so strong as it is to despise the shame of being a little one.
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In indolent vacuity of thought.
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Come, evening, once again, season of peace Return, sweet evening, and continue long! Methinks I see thee in the streaky west, With matron step, slow moving, while the night Treads on thy sweeping train one hand employ'd In letting fall the curtain of repose On bird and beast, the other charged for man With sweet oblivion of the cares of day.
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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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Me howling blasts drive devious, tempest-tossed, / Sails ripped, seams opening wide, and compass lost.
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Built God a church and laughed His word to scorn.
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