“Blest be the art that can immortalize,--the art that baffles time's tyrannic claim to quench it.”
Source: The Works of William Cowper: Posthumous poems. Translations from Vincent Bourne. Translations of the Latin and Italian poems of Milton. Epigrams translated from the Latin of Owen. Translations of Greek verses. Translations from the Fables of Gay. Adam: a sacred drama, translated from the Italian of Andreini
“How readily we wish time spent revoked, that we might try the ground again where once--through inexperience, as we now perceive--we missed that happiness we might have found!”
Source: The poetical works of William Cowper, ed: with notes and biographical introd. by William Benham
“The art of poetry is to touch the passions, and its duty to lead them on the side of virtue.”
“Oh, popular applause! what heart of man
Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms?
The wisest and the best feel urgent need
Of all their caution in thy gentlest gales;
But swell'd into a gust--who then, alas!
With all his canvas set, and inexpert,
And therefore, heedless, can withstand thy power?”
Source: William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems
“But poverty, with most who whimper forth
Their long complaints, is self-inflicted woe;
The effect of laziness, or sottish write.”
Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative
“Where penury is felt the thought is chain'd,
And sweet colloquial pleasures are but few.”
Source: William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems
“What we admire we praise; and when we praise,
Advance it into notice, that its worth
Acknowledged, others may admire it too.”
Source: The Works of William Cowper: Comprising His Poems, Correspondence, and Translations. With a Life of the Author
“Religion, richest favor of the skies.”
Source: The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative
“Religion does not censure or exclude
Unnumbered pleasures, harmlessly pursued.”
Source: Poems
“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.”
Source: The Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper: With Life, and Critical Notice of His Writings. Eight Engravings on Steel