William Cowper Quotes

309 Sourced Quotes

To trace in Nature's most minute design The signature and stamp of power divine.... The Invisible in things scarce seen revealed, To whom an atom is an ample field.

William Cowper
E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream
thy flowing wounds supply,
redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.

William Cowper
We bear our shades about us; self-deprived Of other screen, the thin umbrella spread, And range an Indian waste without a tree.

William Cowper
And Katerfelto, with his hair on end
At his own wonders, wondering for his bread.
'T is pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat,
To peep at such a world,—to see the stir
Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd.

William Cowper
"Regions Caesar never knew
Thy posterity shall sway;
Where his eagles never flew,
None invincible as they." Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords Of his sweet but awful lyre.

William Cowper
Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too.

William Cowper
Ten thousand casks, Forever dribbling out their base contents, Touch'd by the Midas finger of the state, Bleed gold for ministers to sport away. Drink, and be mad then; 'tis your country bids!

William Cowper
Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint; Yet I love thee and adore, Oh for grace to love thee more!

William Cowper
He that has seen both sides of fifty has lived to little purpose if he has no other views of the world than he had when he was much younger.

William Cowper
The nurse sleeps sweetly, hired to watch the sick,
Whom, snoring, she disturbs.

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

William Cowper
Give what Thou canst, without Thee we are poor;
And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away.

William Cowper
Society friendship and love
Divinely bestow'd upon man,
O had I the wings of a dove
How soon I would taste you again!

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.

William Cowper
Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to His feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.

William Cowper
Strange as it may seem, the most ludicrous lines I ever wrote have been written in the saddest mood.

William Cowper
Religion, if in heavenly truths attired, Needs only to be seen to be admired.

William Cowper
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.

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

William Cowper
Time, as he passes us, has a dove's wing,
Unsoil'd, and swift, and of a silken sound.

William Cowper
God never meant that man should scale the Heavens
By strides of human wisdom. In his works,
Though wondrous, he commands us in his word
To seek him rather where his mercy shines.

William Cowper
'T is Providence alone secures
In every change both mine and yours.

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

William Cowper
Thieves at home must hang; but he that puts Into his overgorged and bloated purse The wealth of Indian provinces, escapes.

William Cowper
Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day
(Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.

William Cowper