43 Quotes & Sayings By William Cowper

William Cowper was born in 1631 in England. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He became Rector of the parish of Spilsby in Lincolnshire, where he established a successful school. Cowper was a popular and prolific writer of religious and didactic poetry and prose during the 17th and 18th centuries Read more

His best known work is The Task (1668).

God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to performs
1
God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to performs William Cowper
2
Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And, while the bubbling and loud hissing urn Throws up a steamy column and the cups That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful ev'ning in. William Cowper
3
There is in souls a sympathy with sounds: And as the mind is pitch'd the ear is pleased With melting airs, or martial, brisk or grave; Some chord in unison with what we hear Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies. William Cowper
4
Man disavows, and Deity disowns me; Hell might afford my miseries a shelter; Therefore Hell keeps her ever-hungry mouths all Bolted against me. Hard lot! encompassed with a thousand dangers, Weary, faint, trembling with a thousand terrors, I'm called, if vanquished, to receive a sentence Worse than Abiram's.Him the vindictive rod of angry JusticeSent quick and howling to the centre headlong; I, fed with judgement, in a fleshy tomb, am Buried above ground. William Cowper
5
The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb. William Cowper
6
If the world like it not, so much the worse for them. William Cowper
7
When we don't pray, we quit the fight. Prayer keeps the Christian's armor bright. And Satan trembles when he sees. The weakest saint upon his knees. William Cowper
8
My fugitive years are all hasting away, And I must ere long lie as lowly as they, With a turf on my breast, and a stone at my head, Ere another such grove shall arise in its stead.' Tis a sight to engage me, if anything can, To muse on the perishing pleasures of man; Though his life be a dream, his enjoyments I see, Have a being less durable even than he. William Cowper
9
No traveler e'er reached that blest abode who found not thorns and briers in his road. William Cowper
10
Remorse begets reform. William Cowper
11
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
12
God made the country and man made the town. William Cowper
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What is there in the vale of life Half so delightful as a wife When Friendship love and peace combine To stamp the marriage bond divine? William Cowper
14
The town is man's world but this (country life) is of God. William Cowper
15
A moral sensible and well-bred man Will not affront me and no other can. William Cowper
16
A fool must now and then be right by chance. William Cowper
17
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. William Cowper
18
Grief is itself a med'cine. William Cowper
19
Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose. William Cowper
20
Happiness depends as Nature shows Less on exterior things than most suppose. William Cowper
21
Happiness depends as Nature shows less on exterior things than most suppose. William Cowper
22
Beware of desp'rate steps the darkest day lived till tomorrow will have pass'd away. William Cowper
23
Restraining prayer we cease to fight Prayer keeps the Christian's armor bright And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. William Cowper
24
Religion if in heavenly truths attired Needs only to be seen to be admired. William Cowper
25
Absence of occupation is not rest A mind quite vacant is a mind distress'd. William Cowper
26
A glory gilds the sacred page Majestic like the sun It gives a light to every age It gives but borrows none. William Cowper
27
We are never more in danger than when we think ourselves most secure nor in reality more secure than when we seem to be most in danger. William Cowper
28
I praise the Frenchman his remark was shrewd - "How sweet how passing sweet is solitude." But grant me still a friend in my retreat Whom I may whisper - Solitude is sweet. William Cowper
29
The cares of today are seldom those of tomorrow. William Cowper
30
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam Excels a dunce that has been kept at home! William Cowper
31
Variety's the very spice of life That gives it all its flavour. William Cowper
32
Such stuff the world is made of. William Cowper
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Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair. William Cowper
34
Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God. William Cowper
35
A fool must now and then be right, by chance. William Cowper
36
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. William Cowper
37
Knowledge is proud that it knows so much wisdom is humble that it knows no more. William Cowper
38
Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay. William Cowper
39
Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too. William Cowper
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They whom truth and wisdom lead, can gather honey from a weed. William Cowper
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Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor. William Cowper
42
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home. William Cowper