Thomas Gray Quotes

I shall be but a shrimp of an author.

Weave the warp, and weave the woof, The winding sheet of Edward's race. Give ample room and verge enough, The Characters of hell to trace.

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,/
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,/
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,/
And leaves the world to darkness and to me./

From toil he wins his spirits light, From busy day the peaceful night; Rich, from the very want of wealth, In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.

Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtles in the darkened air.

Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A youth to Fortune and Fame unknown.

Ignorance is bliss

Yet, ah! why should they know their fate,
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies?
Thought would destroy their Paradise.
No more; — where ignorance is bliss,
'Tis folly to be wise.

Still as they run they look behind, They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.

The generous spark extinct revive,
Teach me to love and to forgive,
Exact my own defects to scan,
What others are, to feel, and to know myself a Man.

- Hymn to Adversity

To each his suff'rings: all are men, Condemn'd alike to groan, The tender for another's pain; Th' unfeeling for his own. Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.

To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Llewellyn's lay.

While bright-eyed Science watches round.

The verse adorn again Fierce War, and faithful Love, And Truth severe, by fairy Fiction drest.

Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.