Quotes from John Clare

And what is Life? - An hour-glass on the run

Ah, words are poor receipts for what time hath stole away.

He could not die when trees were green, for he loved the time too well.

He could not die when the trees were green, For he loved the time too well.

I lost the love of heaven above I spurned the lust of earth below I felt the sweets of fancied love And hell itself my only foe.

I'm John Clare now. I was Byron and Shakespeare formerly.

Yet simple souls, their faith it knows no stint:Things least to be believed are most preferred.All counterfeits, as from truth's sacred mint, Are readily believed if once put down in print

I am, as far as my politics reaches, 'King and Country' - no 'Innovations in Religion and Government' say I.

I long for scenes where man has never trod;... There to abide with my Creator, God.

I had a variety of minds about me and all of them unsettled.

The best way to avoid a bad action is by doing a good one, for there is no difficulty in the world like that of trying to do nothing.

Old April wanes, and her last dewy morn Her death-bed steeps in tears; to hail the May New blooming blossoms neath the sun are born, And all poor April's charms are swept away.

My fears are agitated to an extreme degree and the dread of death involves me in a stupor of chilling indisposition.

To-morrow comes, true copy of to-day,And empty shadow of what is to be;Yet cheated Hope on future still depends,And ends but only when our being ends.