Home / Authors / William Cowper

William Cowper Quotes

Poet

William Cowper, a renowned English poet, was born on November 26, 1731, and died on April 25, 1800. Known for his lyrical and satirical poems, Cowper's works held a significant place in English literature during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men May Ifs Giving Home Mind Stills Heart World Sweet Way Should Wells Made Pleasure Art Charm Earth Fall Flower

Famous William Cowper Quotes

“The man to solitude accustom'd long, Perceives in everything that lives a tongue; Not animals alone, but shrubs and trees Have speech for him, and understood with ease, After long drought when rains abundant fall, He hears the herbs and flowers rejoicing all.”

Men Long Fall Animal Tree He Man Flower Solitude Speech Understood Rain Tongue Ease Perceive Rejoice Herbs Drought Shrubs

Book:The poetical works of William Cowper: Complete ed., with memoir, explanatory notes etc

Source: The poetical works of William Cowper: Complete ed., with memoir, explanatory notes etc

“The only amarantine flower on earth Is virtue.”

Earth Virtue Flower

Author:William Cowper

“Not a flower But shows some touch, in freckle, streak or stain, Of his unrivall'd pencil. He inspires Their balmy odors, and imparts their hues, And bathes their eyes with nectar, and includes In grains as countless as the seaside sands, The forms with which he sprinkles all the earth Happy who walks with him!”

Shows Eye Earth Form Walks Inspire Flower Sand Grain Pencils Stains Impart Streaks Hue Odor Nectar Freckles Sprinkles

Book:The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

“Pity! Religion has so seldom found A skilful guide into poetic ground! The flowers would spring where'er she deign'd to stray And every muse attend her in her way.”

Way Religion Found Flower Spring Guides Pity Poetic Muse

Book:The Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life, and Critical Notice of His Writings. Eight Engravings on Steel

Source: The Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life, and Critical Notice of His Writings. Eight Engravings on Steel

“All flesh is grass. and all its glory fades Like the fair flower dishevell'd in the wind; Riches have wings, and grandeur is a dream; The man we celebrate must find a tomb, And we that worship him, ignoble graves.”

Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

“Go, mark the matchless working of the power That shuts within the seed the future flower; Bids these in elegance of form excel. In color these, and those delight the smell; Sends nature forth, the daughter of the skies, To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes.”

Humans Eye Earth Form Sky Color Flower Daughter Mark Delight Smell Seeds Charm Providence Elegance Human Eyes

Author:William Cowper

“Nature, exerting an unwearied power, Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower; Spreads the fresh verdure of the field, and leads The dancing Naiads through the dewy meads.”

Giving Form Nature Fields Flower Dancing Spread Scent Mead

Book:The complete poetical works of William Cowper, with life and critical notice of his writings

Source: The complete poetical works of William Cowper, with life and critical notice of his writings

“'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume; And we are weeds without it.”

Giving Wisdom Liberty Flower Weed Perfume Fleeting Fleeting Life

Book:The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

“The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.”

May Sweet Flower Taste Bitter Bud God Works In Mysterious Ways Bitter Taste

Book:The poetical works of William Cowper, ed: with notes and biographical introd. by William Benham

Source: The poetical works of William Cowper, ed: with notes and biographical introd. by William Benham

“The only amaranthine flower on earth is virtue; the only lasting treasure, truth.”

Inspirational Earth Virtue Flower Treasure Lasting

Book:The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative

Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative