Thomas Gray Quotes

Any fool may write a most valuable book by chance, if he will only tell us what he heard and saw with veracity.

Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate, Beneath the good how far—but far above the great.

Nor second he, that rode sublime Upon the seraph-wings of ecstasy, The secrets of th’abyss to spy. He passed the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire-blaze, Where angels tremble, while they gaze, He saw; but blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.

Far from the sun and summer-gale, In thy green lap was Nature’s darling laid.

‘Be thine despair and sceptred care; To triumph, and to die, are mine.’ He spoke, and headlong from the mountain’s height Deep in the roaring tide he plunged to endless night.

In buskined measures move Pale Grief and pleasing Pain, With Horror, tyrant of the throbbing breast.