William Cowper (1731–1800) was a British poet and hymn-writer. Often recognized as a “transitional” writer, he anticipated the attitudes and subjects of Romantic and Victorian authors.
Born in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, Cowper was educated at Westminster School. He studied law and was called to the Bar in 1754, but did not practice. He showed signs of insanity—in 1763, he tried to commit suicide and was sent to a sanatorium.
Together with the evangelical minister John Newton, Cowper wrote the Olney Hymns (1779,) to which Cowper contributed some hymns. His well-known hymns, including “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” and “Oh for a Closer Walk with God” have become standards of the Anglican Church.
Cowper’s other works include the ballad ‘John Gilpin’ (1783,) ‘Castaway,’ The Task (1785,) an intimate sketch of rural life, and translations including poet John Milton’s Latin poems.
Cowper is generally regarded as the poet of the evangelical revival and as the precursor of William Wordsworth as a poet of nature. Novelist Jane Austen’s characters often quote some of Cowper’s poems.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William Cowper
The earth was made so various, that the mind of desultory man, studious of change, and pleased with novelty, might be indulged.
—William Cowper
A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
—William Cowper
Topics: Life, Living, Idleness, Happiness
Visitors are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not visit, would do nothing.
—William Cowper
A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your joys disperse at one immense explosion.
—William Cowper
Topics: Anger
God made the country, and man made the town.—What wonder, then, that health and virtue should most abound, and least be threatened in the fields and groves.
—William Cowper
My soul is sick with every day’s report of wrong and outrage with which earth is filled.
—William Cowper
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.
—William Cowper
Topics: Knowledge, Wisdom, Humility
Man disavows, and Deity disowns me: hell might afford my miseries a shelter; therefore hell keeps her ever-hungry mouths all bolted against me.
—William Cowper
Some to the fascination of a name, surrender judgment hoodwinked.
—William Cowper
Topics: Names
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain:
God is His own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
—William Cowper
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home.
—William Cowper
Topics: Experts
The rich are too indolent, the poor too weak, to bear the insupportable fatigue of thinking.
—William Cowper
Topics: Thought
In all the vast and the minute, we see the unambiguous footsteps of the God, who gives its luster to the insect’s wing, and wheels his throne upon the rolling worlds.
—William Cowper
Topics: God
Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.
—William Cowper
Topics: Purpose, Happiness
Habits are soon assumed; but when we endeavor to strip them off, it is being flayed alive.
—William Cowper
Topics: Habit
It chills my blood to hear the blest Supreme rudely appealed to on each trifling theme.—Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise.—To swear is neither brave, polite, nor wise.
—William Cowper
Topics: Vulgarity, Swearing
The lie that flatters I abhor the most.
—William Cowper
Topics: Flattery
Grief is itself a med’cine.
—William Cowper
Candid and generous and just. Boys care but little whom they trust. An error soon corrected—for who but learns in riper years. That man, when smoothest he appears, is most to be suspected?
—William Cowper
Topics: Trust
The man that dares traduce, because he can with safety to himself, is not a man.
—William Cowper
Absence of occupation is not rest; a mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
—William Cowper
Topics: Occupation, Leisure, Idleness, Absence
All affectation; ’tis my perfect scorn;
Object of my implacable disgust.
—William Cowper
Topics: Affectation
The kindest and the happiest pair, will find occasion to forbear; find something every day they live, to pity, and perhaps forgive.
—William Cowper
Topics: Marriage
Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.
—William Cowper
Topics: Knowledge
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.
—William Cowper
Topics: Fate
Man, in society, is like a flower blown in its native bud. It is there only that his faculties, expanded in full bloom, shine out, there only reach their proper use.
—William Cowper
Topics: Society
Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
—William Cowper
Topics: Absence, Romance
Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.
—William Cowper
I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute on;
but I wish that I could get away
And go home to the village of Bruton.
—William Cowper
A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship’s finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.
—William Cowper
He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, and all are slaves beside.
—William Cowper
Topics: Truth, Liberty, Freedom
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer keeps the Christian’s armor bright; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.
—William Cowper
Topics: Prayer, Evil
If a great man struggling with misfortunes is a noble object, a little man that despises them is no contemptible one.
—William Cowper
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