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
Mercy to him that shows it, is the rule.
—William Cowper
Topics: Mercy
Domestic happiness—thou only bliss of paradise that has survived the fall.
—William Cowper
Detested sport, that owes its pleasures to another’s pain.
—William Cowper
Topics: Cruelty
Visitors are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not visit, would do nothing.
—William Cowper
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
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: Safety, Security
The proud are ever most provoked by pride.
—William Cowper
Topics: Pride
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor, and with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.
—William Cowper
Who hath not owned, with rapture-smitten frame, the power of grace, the magic of a name.
—William Cowper
Topics: Names
Knowledge is proud that she knows so much; Wisdom is humble that she knows no more.
—William Cowper
Topics: Knowledge, Wisdom, Now
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
Topics: Country
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
Hypocrisy, detest her as we may, and no man’s hatred ever wronged her yet, may claim this merit still, that she admits the worth of what she mimics with such care.
—William Cowper
Topics: Hypocrisy
No one was ever scolded out of their sins.
—William Cowper
Topics: Sin
A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.
—William Cowper
Topics: Pride
He comes, the herald of a noisy world, news from all nations lumbering at his back; a messenger of grief perhaps to thousands, and a joy to some.
—William Cowper
Topics: News
Still ending, and beginning still.
—William Cowper
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
Words learned by rote a parrot may rehearse; but talking is not always to converse; not more distinct from harmony divine, the constant creaking of a country sign.
—William Cowper
Topics: Talking
The age of virtuous politics is past, and we are deep in that of cold pretence.—Patriots are grown too shrewd to be sincere, and we too wise to trust them.
—William Cowper
Topics: Patriotism
How sweet, how passing sweet, is solitude! but grant me still a friend in my retreat, whom I may whisper, solitude is sweet.
—William Cowper
Topics: Solitude
Toil for the brave! The brave that are no more.
—William Cowper
Topics: Brave
The cares of today are seldom those of tomorrow; and when we lie down at night we may safely say to most of our troubles, “Ye have done your worst, and we shall see you no more.”
—William Cowper
Topics: Trouble, The Present
Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.
—William Cowper
Topics: Kindness, Compassion
Glory built on selfish principles is shame and guilt.
—William Cowper
Topics: One liners, Selfishness, Glory
Happiness depends, as Nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.
—William Cowper
Topics: Money, Happiness, Success, Purpose
To dally mucn with subjects mean and low, proves that the mind is weak or makes it so.
—William Cowper
Fanaticism soberly defined, is the false fire of an over heated mind.
—William Cowper
Topics: Fanaticism
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, Temper
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
Topics: Wit, Humor
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