19 Quotes & Sayings By Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins, CBE (/ˈhɒfəs/;[1] January 7, 1844 – May 9, 1889) was an English poet and one of the most prominent Victorian poets and Catholic convert writers. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the English language.[2][3][4] His poetry was known both for its religious intensity and for its aesthetic achievement.[5] Born in London at 1 Gerard Square, he was the youngest child of Thomas Hopkins (1811–1868), a shipbuilder and merchant,[6] and his wife, Henrietta Maria (née West), an American from Philadelphia.[7][8] He was educated at University College, London and in 1866 attended St Edmund Hall, Oxford where he studied under John Henry Newman and Edward Cresy and read for Holy Orders. After ordination in 1867 he served as a curate in Bolton-upon-Dearne until 1869. In that year he married Louisa Ingram at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Read more

They had two sons: Gerard Ingram (born 1870) and Thomas Ingram (born 1877). Hopkins' poetry reached its peak in the 1880s with volume II of The Wreckers. Like his contemporaries Tennyson and Browning, Hopkins is often described as a Victorian poet. However, Hopkins did not regard himself primarily as a Victorian poet or even of his period.

He considered himself to be following "the Victorian tradition" but not "inventing" it.[9] Hopkins was awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature by Oxford University on 12 October 1889.[10] He died on 9 May 1889 at home at 6 Gerard Street aged 47 years old after a lengthy illness.[11] His remains are buried in Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford.[12]

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
1
The world is charged with the grandeur of God. Gerard Manley Hopkins
All things therefore are charged with love, are charged with...
2
All things therefore are charged with love, are charged with God and if we knew how to touch them give off sparks and take fire, yield drops and flow, ring and tell of him. Gerard Manley Hopkins
3
NOT, I’ll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee; Not untwist–slack they may be–these last strands of man In me ór, most weary, cry I can no more. I can; Can something, hope, wish day come, not choose not to be. Gerard Manley Hopkins
What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and...
4
What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. Gerard Manley Hopkins
Let Him easter in us, be a dayspring to the...
5
Let Him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east. Gerard Manley Hopkins
O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful,...
6
O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Gerard Manley Hopkins
The Best ideal is the true and other truth is...
7
The Best ideal is the true and other truth is none. All glory be ascribed to the holy Three in One. Gerard Manley Hopkins
Where lies your landmark, seamark, or soul's star?
8
Where lies your landmark, seamark, or soul's star? Gerard Manley Hopkins
9
What are works of art for? to educate, to be standards. To produce is of little use unless what we produce is known, is widely known, the wider known the better, for it is by being known that it works, it influences, it does its duty, it does good. We must try, then, to be known, aim at it, take means to it. And this without puffing in the process or pride in the success. Gerard Manley Hopkins
10
The effect of studying masterpieces is to make me admire and do otherwise. So it must be on every original artist to some degree, on me to a marked degree.(from notes on 'Heraclitean Fire') Gerard Manley Hopkins
11
No wonder of it: sheer plod makes plough down sillion Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion. Gerard Manley Hopkins
12
...Where we, even where we mean To mend her we end her, When we hew or delve: After-comers cannot guess the beauty been. Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve Strokes of havoc únselve The sweet especial scene, Rural scene, a rural scene, Sweet especial rural scene. Gerard Manley Hopkins
13
...O if we but knew what to do When we delve or hew– Hack and rack the growing green! Since country is so tender To touch, her being só slender, Gerard Manley Hopkins
14
No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief, More pangs will, schooled at forepangs, wilder wring. Comforter, where, where is your comforting? Mary, mother of us, where is your relief? My cries heave, herds-long; huddle in a main, a chief-woe, world-sorrow; on an age-old anvil wince and sing –Then lull, then leave off. Fury had shrieked 'No ling-ering! Let me be fell: force I must be brief'. O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Hold them cheap May who ne'er hung there. Nor does long our small Durance deal with that steep or deep. Here! creep, Wretch, under a comfort serves in a whirlwind: all Life death does end and each day dies with sleep. Gerard Manley Hopkins
15
It is the blight man was born for. It is Margaret you mourn for. Gerard Manley Hopkins
16
Nothing is so beautiful as spring - when weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring the ear, it strikes like lightning to hear him sing. Gerard Manley Hopkins
17
The poetical language of an age should be the current language heightened. Gerard Manley Hopkins
18
Religion, you know, enters very deep; in reality it is the deepest impression I have in speaking to people, that they are or that they are not of my religion. Gerard Manley Hopkins