Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

William Cowper

English Poet and Hymnodist

"A brave man knows no malice; but forgets, in peace, the injuries of war, and gives his direst foe a friend's embrace."

"A business with an income at its heels, furnishes always oil for its own wheels."

"A cheap but wholesome salad from the brook."

"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."

"A fool may now and then be right by chance."

"A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge: he says but little, and that little said owes all its weight, like loaded dice, to lead. His wit invites you by his looks to come, but when you knock, it never is at home."

"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 hat not much the worse for wear."

"A kick that scarce would move a horse, may kill a sound divine."

"A land-breeze shook the shrouds, and she was overset down went the royal george, with all her crew complete."

"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 water, and beneath clear skies."

"A life of ease is a difficult pursuit."

"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 mind quite vacant is a mind distressed."

"A noisy man is always in the right."

"A patriot's blood, well spent in such a strife, may earn indeed, and for a time ensure to his loved land, the sweets of liberty and equal laws but martyrs struggle for a brighter prize, and win it with more pain. Their blood is shed in confirmation of the noblest claim -- our claim to feed upon immortal truth, to walk with god, to be divinely free, to soar, and to anticipate the skies. Yet few remember them."

"A poet does not work by square or line."

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

"A shallow brain, behind a serious mask; an oracle within an empty cask - the solemn fop!"

"A snug and friendly game at cards."

"A story, in which native humor reigns, is often useful, always entertains; a graver fact, enlisted on your side, 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 worm is in the bud of youth, and at the root of age."

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

"Absence of proof is not proof of absence."

"Acquaint thyself with god, if thou would'st taste his works. Admitted once to his embrace, thou shalt perceive that thou wast 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."

"Adored through fear, strong only to destroy."

"Ages elapsed ere homer's lamp appear'd, and ages ere the mantuan swan was heard: to carry nature lengths unknown before, to give a milton birth, ask'd ages more."

"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."

"All affectation; 'tis my perfect scorn."

"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 has its date below; the fatal hour was register'd in heav'n ere time began. We turn to dust, and all our mightiest works die too."

"All learned, and all drunk!"

"All thy threads with magic art have wound themselves about this heart."

"All we behold is miracle."

"All zeal for a reform, that gives offence to peace and charity, is mere pretense."

"Always, ere he mounted, kissed his horse."

"Am I to set my life upon a throw, because a bear is rude and surly? No-- a moral, sensible, and well-bred man, will not affront me, and no other can."

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

"An honest man, close-buttoned to the chin, broadcloth without, and a warm heart within."

"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."

"And diff'ring judgments serve but to declare that truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where."

"And hast thou sworn on every slight pretense, 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 he by no uncommon lot was famed for virtues he had not."

"And in that charter reads with sparkling eyes, her title to a treasure in the skies."

"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."