William Cowper Quotes

Nature is but a name for an effect, Whose cause is God.

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.

But war’s a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings should not play at. Nations would do well To extort their truncheons from the puny hands Of heroes, whose infirm and baby minds Are gratified with mischief, and who spoil, Because men suffer it, their toy the world.

Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And, while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups, That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful evening in.

Studious of laborious ease.

Detested sport, That owes its pleasure to another’s pain.

Defend me, therefore, common sense, say I, From reveries so airy, from the toil Of dropping buckets into empty wells,  And growing old in drawing nothing up!

Variety’s the spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.

There is a pleasure in poetic pains Which only poets know.

England, with all thy faults I love thee still—My country!

At eve The moonbeam, sliding softly in between The sleeping leaves, is all the light they wish, Birds warbling all the music.

Thus first necessity invented stools, Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs, And luxury the accomplished sofa last.

There is a mixture of evil in everything we do; indulgence encourages us to encroach, while we exercise the rights of children, we become childish.

Our severest winter, commonly called the spring.

Laugh at all you trembled at before.

As creeping ivy clings to wood or stone, And hides the ruin that it feeds upon, So sophistry, cleaves close to, and protects Sin’s rotten trunk, concealing its defects.

Remorse, the fatal egg by pleasure laid.

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.

Spare the poet for his subject’s sake.

He found it inconvenient to be poor.