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Thomas Traherne

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Famous Thomas Traherne Quotes

“You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself floweth in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars: and perceive yourself to be the sole heir of the whole world, and more than so, because men are in it who are every one sole heirs as well as you. Till you can sing and rejoice and delight in God, as misers do in gold, and Kings in sceptres, you never enjoy the world. Till your spirit filleth the whole world, and the stars are your jewels; till you are as familiar with the ways of God in all Ages as with your walk and table: till you are intimately acquainted with that shady nothing out of which the world was made: till you love men so as to desire their happiness, with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own: till you delight in God for being good to all: you never enjoy the world.”

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Book:Centuries of Meditations
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“I saw new Worlds beneath the Water ly, New Peeple; yea, another Sky And Sun, which seen by Day Might things more clear display. Just such another Of late my Brother Did in his Travel see, & saw by Night, A much more strange & wondrous Sight: Nor could the World exhibit such another, So Great a Sight, but in a Brother. Adventure strange! No such in Story we New or old, tru or feigned, see. On Earth he seem'd to mov Yet Heven went abov; Up in the Skies His Body flies In open, visible, yet Magick, sort: As he along the Way did sport, Over the Flood he takes his nimble Cours Without the help of feigned Horse. As he went tripping o'r the King's high-way, A little pearly River lay O'r which, without a Wing Or Oar, he dar'd to swim, Swim throu the Air On Body fair; He would not use nor trust Icarian Wings Lest they should prov deceitful things; For had he faln, it had been wondrous high, Not from, but from abov, the Sky: He might hav dropt throu that thin Element Into a fathomless Descent; Unto the nether Sky That did beneath him ly, And there might tell What Wonders dwell On Earth abov. Yet doth he briskly run, And bold the Danger overcom; Who, as he leapt, with Joy related soon How happy he o'r-leapt the Moon.”

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Book:Traherne's Poems of Felicity
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“Is it not easy to conceive the World in your Mind? To think the Heavens fair? The Sun Glorious? The Earth fruitful? The Air Pleasant? The Sea Profitable? And the Giver bountiful? Yet these are the things which it is difficult to retain. For could we always be sensible of their use and value, we should be always delighted with their wealth and glory.”

ThinkingWorldShouldMindUseEarthValuesHeavenEasyDifficultWealthSunAirSeaGloryFairsEnvironmentalPleasantGloriousSensibleProfitableGiverDelighted
Book:Centuries of Meditations
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“Strange is the vigour in a brave man's soul. The strength of his spirit and his irresistible power, the greatness of his heart and the height of his condition, his mighty confidence and contempt of danger, his true security and repose in himself, his liberty to dare and do what he pleaseth, his alacrity in the midst of fears, his invincible temper, are advantages which make him master of fortune.”

MenHeartSoulSpiritLibertyConditionsSecurityDangerGreatnessStrangeMastersAdvantageBraveFortuneDareHeightMidstContemptTemperIrresistibleInvincibleReposeBrave ManAlacrity
Author:Thomas Traherne
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“Why is this soe long detaind in a dark manuscript, that if printed would be a Light to the World, & a Universal Blessing?”

IfsWorldLongLightWould BeDarkBlessingUniversalPrintedManuscripts
Book:The Works of Thomas Traherne: Inducements to retirednes ; A sober view of Dr Twisses, his considerations ; Seeds of eternity, or, The nature of the soul ; The kingdom of God
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“Your enjoyment of the world is never right, till every morning you awake in Heaven: see yourself in your Father's palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and the air as celestial joys: having such a reverend esteem of all, as if you were among the angels.”

IfsWorldLooksEarthJoyFatherHeavenPleasureMorningAirSkyAngelEsteemAwakeEnjoymentLook UpEvery MorningPalacesCelestialReverendsBuilding Castles In The Air
Book:Centuries of Meditations
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“It is of the nobility of man's soul that he is insatiable: for he hath a benefactor so prone to give, that he delighteth in us for asking. Do not your inclinations tell you that the WORLD is yours? Do you not covet all? Do you not long to have it; to enjoy it; to overcome it? To what end do men gather riches, but to multiply more? Do they not like Pyrrhus the King of Epire, add house to house and lands to lands, that they may get it all?”

MenWorldGivingMayLongSoulEndsHouseEnjoyLandWallKingsOvercomingAskingAddRichesInclinationNobilityInsatiableBenefactorsWorld Is Yours
Book:Centuries of Meditations
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“You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself flowers in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars: and perceive yourself to be the sole heir of the whole world, and more than so, because men and women are in it who are every one sole heirs as well as you. Till you can sing and rejoice and delight, as misers do in gold, and kings in scepters, you never enjoy the world.”

MenWorldWellsWholeHeavenStarsEnjoySeaFlowerKingsMen And WomenGoldDelightWhole WorldPerceiveRejoiceSoleVeinsHeirsMisers
Author:Thomas Traherne
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