Best 311 quotes of William Cowper on MyQuotes

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.

Absence of occupation is not rest; A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.

Absence of occupation is not rest.

Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.

A fool must now and then be right, by chance

A Christian's wit is offensive light, A beam that aids, but never grieves the sight; Vig'rous in age as in the flush of youth, 'Tis always active on the side of truth.

Acquaint thyself with God, if thou would'st taste His works. Admitted once to his embrace, Thou shalt perceive that thou was blind before: Thine eye shall be instructed; and thine heart Made pure shall relish with divine delight Till then unfelt, what hands divine have wrought.

Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.

A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your joys disperse at one immense explosion.

A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun, It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none.

A heretic, my dear sir, is a fellow who disagrees with you regarding something neither of you knows anything about.

Alas! if my best Friend, who laid down His life for me, were to remember all the instances in which I have neglected Him, and to plead them against me in judgment, where should I hide my guilty head in the day of recompense? I will pray, therefore, for blessings on my friends, even though they cease to be so, and upon my enemies, though they continue such.

A lawyer's dealings should be just and fair; Honesty shines with great advantage there.

A life all turbulence and noise may seem To him that leads it wise and to be praised, But wisdom is a pearl with most success Sought in still waters.

A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.

All affectation; 'tis my perfect scorn; Object of my implacable disgust.

All constraint, / Except what wisdom lays on evil men, / Is evil.

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.

All zeal for a reform, that gives offence To peace and charity, is mere pretence.

A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship's finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.

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

And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the book's outside, who ne'er look'd within?

And in that hour, The seeds of cruelty, that since have swell'd To such gigantic and enormous growth, Were sown in human nature's fruitful soil. Hence date the persecution and the pain That man inflicts on all inferior kinds, Regardless of their plaints.

And, of all lies (be that one poet's boast) / The lie that flatters I abhor the most.

And the tear that is wiped with a little address, May be follow'd perhaps by a smile.

An epigram is but a feeble thing - With straw in tail, stuck there by way of sting.

An idler is a watch that wants both hands; As useless if it goes as when it stands.

An inadvertent step may crush the snail That crawls at evening in the public path. But he that has humanity, forewarned, Will turn aside and let the reptile live.

A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.

A noisy man is always in the right.

Anticipated rents, and bills unpaid, Force many a shining youth into the shade, Not to redeem his time, but his estate, And play the fool, but at the cheaper rate.

As if the world and they were hand and glove.

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.

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.

A teacher should be sparing of his smile.

Be it a weakness, it deserves some praise, We love the play-place of our early days; The scene is touching, and the heart is stone, That feels not at that sight, and feels at none.

Blest be the art that can immortalize,--the art that baffles time's tyrannic claim to quench it.

Blest be the art that can immortalize.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.

Books are not seldom talismans and spells.

Built God a church and laughed His word to scorn.

But animated nature sweeter still, to soothe and satisfy the human ear.

But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers.

But many a crime deemed innocent on earth Is registered in Heaven; and these no doubt Have each their record, with a curse annex'd.

But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.

But, oh, Thou bounteous Giver of all good, Thou art, of all Thy gifts, Thyself thy crown!

But poverty, with most who whimper forth Their long complaints, is self-inflicted woe; The effect of laziness, or sottish write.

But still remember, if you mean to please, To press your point with modesty and ease.

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.