William Cowper Quotes

Sweet stream that winds through yonder glade, Apt emblem of a virtuous maid Silent and chaste she steals along, Far from the world's gay busy throng: With gentle yet prevailing force, Intent upon her destined course; Graceful and useful all she does, Blessing and blest where'er she goes; Pure-bosom'd as that watery glass, And Heaven reflected in her face.

"Regions Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway; Where his eagles never flew, None invincible as they." Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords Of his sweet but awful lyre.

True Charity, a plant divinely nurs'd.

Fate steals along with silent tread, Found oftenest in what least we dread, Frowns in the storm with angry brow, But in the sunshine strikes the blow.

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.

But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.

To see the law by Christ fulfill’d, And hear his pardoning voice, Changes a slave into a child, And duty into choice.

Typerien edelläkävijoiden seuraaminen ja molempien silmien ummistaminen on helpompaa kuin ajatteleminen.

Absence of occupation is not rest; A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.

"The Castaway"

Obscurest night involved the sky,
The Atlantic billows roared,
When such a destined wretch as I,
washed headlong from on board.
Of friends, of hope, of all bereft,
His floating home forever left...

En apariencia abandonado y solo, escucho el león rugir: y toda puerta se cierra menos una, y esa es la puerta de la misericordia

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge — a rude, unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which Wisdom builds,
Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place — Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.

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.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace, behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.