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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.

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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

“For 'tis a truth well known to most, That whatsoever thing is lost, We seek it, ere it comes to light, In every cranny but the right.”

Wells Light Lost Loss Known Well Known

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

“Would I describe a preacher, I would express him simple, grave, sincere; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture; much impress'd Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men.”

Source: The Works of William Cowper: His Life, Letters, and Poems. Now First Completed by the Introduction of Cowper's Private Correspondence

“The things that mount the rostrum with a skip, And then skip down again, pronounce a text, Cry hem; and reading what they never wrote Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work, And with a well-bred whisper close the scene!”

Wells Reading Minutes Cry Scene Preaching Fifteen Skip Hem

Book:The Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life ; Six Engravings on Steel

Source: The Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life ; Six Engravings on Steel

“The mind, relaxing into needful sport, Should turn to writers of an abler sort, Whose wit well managed, and whose classic style, Give truth a lustre, and make wisdom smile.”

Giving Should Mind Wells Turns Reading Sports Style Wit Classic

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

“A story, in which native humour reigns, Is often useful, always entertains; A graver fact, enlisted on your side, May furnish illustration, well applied; But sedentary weavers of long tales Give me the fidgets, and my patience fails.”

Giving Wells May Long Facts Stories Sides Failing Humour Give Me Tales Native Reign Your Side Illustration Sedentary Weavers Enlisted

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

“A moral, sensible, and well-bred manWill not affront me, and no other can.”

Wells Moral Manners Sensible Courtesy Affront

Author:William Cowper

“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.”

Men World Should Mind Wells War Play Hands Suffering Games Nations Wise Subjects Baby Kings Hero Toys Spoil Mischief

Author:William Cowper

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

Wells Common Growing Empty Drawing Common Sense Folly Toil Dropping Growing Old Buckets Reverie Airy

Author:William Cowper

“Even in the stifling bosom of the town, A garden, in which nothing thrives, has charms That soothes the rich possessor; much consol'd, That here and there some sprigs of mournful mint, Or nightshade, or valerian, grace the well He cultivates.”

Wells Home Rich Grace Garden Towns Charm Thrive Here And There Bosoms Mint Stifling

Book:The Task: A Poem. In Six Books

Source: The Task: A Poem. In Six Books

“This fond attachment to the well-known place Whence first we started into life's long race, Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway, We feel it e'en in age, and at our latest day.”

Feels Firsts Wells Long Home Age Race Known Attachment Well Known

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

“The dogs did bark, the children screamed, Up flew the windows all; And every soul bawled out, Well done! As loud as he could bawl.”

Wells Children Soul Done Dog Window Loud Flew Bark Well Done

Author:William Cowper

“A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct; The language plain, and incidents well link'd; Tell not as new what ev'ry body knows; and, new or old, still hasten to a close.”

Knows Should Wells Stills Body Language Clear Tales Links Incidents

Author:William Cowper