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Absence
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Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
-William Cowper
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Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
-William Cowper
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Anger
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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
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Chance
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A fool must now and then be right, by chance.
-William Cowper
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Conscience
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The innocent seldom find an uncomfortable pillow.
-William Cowper
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Enthusiasm
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No wild enthusiast could rest, till half the world like him was possessed.
-William Cowper
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Evil
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Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees.
-William Cowper
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Fanaticism
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Fanaticism soberly defined, is the false fire of an over heated mind.
-William Cowper
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Friends
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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.
-William Cowper
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Glory
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You told me, I remember, glory, built
On selfish principles, is shame and guilt;
The deeds that men admire as half divine,
Stark naught, because corrupt in their design.
Strange doctrine this! that without scruple tears
The laurel that the very lightning spares;
Brings down the warrior
http://www.ccel.org/c/cowper/works/table-talk.htm
-William Cowper, Table Talk
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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, Light Shining out of Darkness
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Guests
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Visitors are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not visit, would do nothing.
-William Cowper
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Hope
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The darkest day, If you live till tomorrow will have past away.
-William Cowper
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Humor
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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
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Insanity
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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
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Kindness
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Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.
-William Cowper
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Knowledge
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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
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Knowledge is proud that it knows so much; Wisdom is humble that it knows no more.
-William Cowper
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Laziness
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The life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
-William Cowper
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Life
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A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
-William Cowper
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Nation, Nationality, Nationalism
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God made the country and man made the town.
-William Cowper
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Nature
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Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God.
-William Cowper
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Praise
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O, popular applause! what heart of man is proof against thy sweet, seducing charms?
-William Cowper
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Pride
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A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.
-William Cowper
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Profanity, Swearing, Vulgarity
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It chills my blood to hear the blest Supreme rudely appealed to on each trifling theme.
-William Cowper
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Books by and about William Cowper