William Cowper Quotes

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
- William Cowper

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.
- William Cowper

The only am arantine flower on earth Is virtue.
- William Cowper

No tree in all the grove but has its charms, Though each its hue peculiar.
- William Cowper

Some boundless contiguity of shade.
- William Cowper

Ye therefore who love mercy, teach your sons to love it, too.
- William Cowper

The man that dares traduce, because he can with safety to himself, is not a man.
- William Cowper

There is a pleasure in poetic pains which only poets know.
- William Cowper

Pleasure admitted in undue degree Enslaves the will, nor leaves the judgment free.
- William Cowper

That, though on pleasure she was bent, She had a frugal mind.
- William Cowper

Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.
- William Cowper

Some to the fascination of a name, Surrender judgment hoodwinked.
- William Cowper

Absence of occupation is not rest, A mind quite vacant is a mind distress’d.
- William Cowper

A fool must now and then be right by chance.
- William Cowper

How various his employments whom the world Calls idle; and who justly in return Esteems that busy world an idler too!
- William Cowper

An idler is a watch that wants both hands; As useless if it goes as when it stands.
- William Cowper

And prate and preach about what others prove, As if the world and they were hand and glove.
- William Cowper

Visitors are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not visit, would do nothing.
- William Cowper

Whoever keeps an open ear For tattlers will be sure to hear The trumpet of contention.
- William Cowper

Freedom has a thousand charms to show, That slaves, howe’er contented, never know.
- William Cowper

With spots quadrangular of diamond form, Ensanguined hearts, clubs typical of strife, And spades, the emblems of untimely graves.
- William Cowper

God moves in mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm.
- William Cowper

God made the country, and man made the town.
- William Cowper