Quotes from William Cowper

Religion! what treasure untold resides in that heavenly word!

Remorse, the fatal egg that pleasure laid.

The life of ease is a difficult pursuit.

The man that hails you Tom or Jack, and proves by thumps upon your back how he esteems your merit, is such a friend, that one had need be very much his friend indeed to pardon or to bear it.

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

God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to performs

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.

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much. Wisdom is humble that he knows not more.

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.

Satan trembles, when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees.

I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute, From the centre all round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute. O solitude! Where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place.

Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God.

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.

Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom in minds attentive to their own.

But it is a sort of April-weather life that we lead in this world. A little sunshine is generally the prelude to a storm.

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.

Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.

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 Justice Sent quick and howling to the centre headlong; I, fed with judgement, in a fleshy tomb, am Buried above ground.

In a fleshy tomb I am buried above ground.

The darkest day if you live till tomorrow will have past away.

Still ending, and beginning still!

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

Grief is itself a medicine.

Sends Nature forth the daughter of the skies... To dance on earth, and charm all human eyes.