William Cowper

Explore 10 quotes by William Cowper

Variety's the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.

William Cowper

Read The Task at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Variety

Author

William Cowper

Source

The Timepiece The Task

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Cowper, William. The Task. London: Joseph Johnson, 1785, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "The Task." William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems, edited by James Sambrook. Routledge, 2016, bk. 2.

A fool must now and then be right, by chance.

William Cowper

Conversations

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Topic

Being right Fools Probability

Author

William Cowper

Source

Conversations Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1782 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cowper, William. "Conversation." Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. London: J. Johnson, 1782, I. 96.

Detested sport,
That owes its pleasures to another's pain.

William Cowper

On hunting.

Read The Task at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Hunting Man and animals

Author

William Cowper

Source

The Garden The Task

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Cowper, William. The Task. London: Joseph Johnson, 1785, bk. 3.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "The Task." William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems, edited by James Sambrook. Routledge, 2016, bk. 3.

Remorse, the fatal egg by pleasure laid.

William Cowper

More information about this quote

Topic

Regrets

Author

William Cowper

Source

The Progress of Error Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1782 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cowper, William. "The Progress of Error." Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. London: J. Johnson, 1782.

Grief is itself a med'cine.

William Cowper

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Topic

Grief

Author

William Cowper

Source

Charity Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1782 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cowper, William. "Charity." Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. London: J. Johnson, 1782, I. 159.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

William Cowper

Light Shining out of Darkness

Read the lyrics to this hymn at Poetry Foundation

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Topic

Incomprehensibility of God God

Author

William Cowper

Source

Light Shining out of Darkness

Medium

Hymn Song

Language

English

Time

1779 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Cowper, William. "Light Shining out of Darkness." Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects; to which are added Hymns. London: J. and W. Oliver, 1774.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "Light Shining out of Darkness." William Cowper's Olney Hymns. Curiosmith, 2009.

But war's a game, which, were their subjects wise,
Kings would not play at.

William Cowper

The Winter Morning Walk

Read The Task at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

War

Author

William Cowper

Source

The Winter Morning Walk The Task

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Cowper, William. The Task. London: Joseph Johnson, 1785, bk. 5.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "The Task." William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems, edited by James Sambrook. Routledge, 2016, bk. 5.

He likes the country, but in truth must own,
Most likes it, when he studies it in town.

William Cowper

More information about this quote

Topic

Rural vs. urban

Author

William Cowper

Source

Retirement Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1782 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cowper, William. "Retirement." Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. London: J. Johnson, 1782.

England, with all thy faults, I love thee still-My country!

William Cowper

Read The Task at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

England Patriotism

Author

William Cowper

Source

The Timepiece The Task

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Cowper, William. The Task. London: Joseph Johnson, 1785, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "The Task." William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems, edited by James Sambrook. Routledge, 2016, bk. 2.

Absence of occupation is not rest,
A mind quite vacant is a mind distress'd.

William Cowper

Retirement

More information about this quote

Topic

Idleness

Author

William Cowper

Source

Retirement Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq.

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1782 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cowper, William. "Retirement." Poems by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq. London: J. Johnson, 1782.