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
O popular applause! what heart of man is proof against thy sweet seducing charms? The wisest and the best feel urgent need of all their caution in thy gentlest gales; but swell’d into a gust—who then, alas! with all his canvas set, and inexpert, and therefore heedless, can withstand thy power?
—William Cowper
Topics: Applause, Praise, Popularity
A shallow brain, behind a serious mask; an oracle within an empty cask—the solemn fop!
—William Cowper
Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
—William Cowper
Topics: Romance, Absence
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
Topics: Glory
We sacrifice to dress till household joys and comforts cease. Dress drains our cellar dry, and keeps our larder clean; puts out our fires, and introduces hunger, frost, and woe, where peace and hospitality might reign.
—William Cowper
Topics: Dress
Pleasure admitted in undue degree, enslaves the will, nor leaves the judgment free.
—William Cowper
Topics: Pleasure
With a soul that ever felt the sting of sorrow, sorrow is a sacred thing.
—William Cowper
Topics: Sympathy
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: Swearing, Vulgarity, Profanity
This fond attachment to the well-known place whence first we started into life’s long race, maintains its hold with such unfailing sway, we feel it e’en in age, and at our latest day.
—William Cowper
Topics: Home
If my resolution to be a great man was half so strong as it is to despise the shame of being a little one … .
—William Cowper
Topics: Attitude
A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.
—William Cowper
Topics: Pride
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
Doing nothing with a deal of skill.
—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: Temper, Anger
Meditation may think down hours to moments. The heart may give most useful lessons to the head, and learning wiser grow without his books.
—William Cowper
Topics: Meditation
Beware of desperate steps.—The darkest day, live till tomorrow, will have passed away.
—William Cowper
Topics: Despair
Once more I would adopt the graver style—a teacher should be sparing of his smile.
—William Cowper
Topics: Teaching, Teachers
The rich are too indolent, the poor too weak, to bear the insupportable fatigue of thinking.
—William Cowper
Topics: Thought
Labor was the primal curse, but it was softened into mercy, and made the pledge of cheerful days, and nights without a groan.
—William Cowper
Topics: Labor
No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, till half mankind were, like himself, possest.
—William Cowper
Topics: Enthusiasm
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
A fool must now and then be right, by chance.
—William Cowper
Topics: Chance
Ceremony leads her bigots forth, prepared to fight for shadows of no worth. While truths, on which eternal things depend, can hardly find a single friend.
—William Cowper
Topics: Truth
Remorse begets reform.
—William Cowper
Topics: Remorse, Difficulties, Adversity
An idler is a watch that wants both hands; As useless if it goes as when it stands.
—William Cowper
Topics: Idleness
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
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor, and with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.
—William Cowper
We are never more in danger than when we think ourselves most secure, nor in reality more secure than when we seem to be most in danger.
—William Cowper
Topics: Security, Safety
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
A brave man knows no malice; but forgets, in peace, the injuries of war, and gives his direst foe a friend’s embrace.
—William Cowper
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