William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 November 1731
education teacher teaching
A teacher should be sparing of his smile.
reform begets remorse
Remorse begets reform.
lying night care
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."
weed flower giving
'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume; And we are weeds without it.
fire joy heaven
Then liberty, like day, Breaks on the soul, and by a flash from Heaven Fires all the faculties with glorious joy.
heart glowing liberty
But slaves that once conceive the glowing thought Of freedom, in that hope itself possess All that the contest calls for; spirit, strength, The scorn of danger, and united hearts, The surest presage of the good they seek.
liberty virtue found
When was public virtue to be found when private was not?
life love-is roots
Our love is principle, and has its root In reason, is judicious, manly, free.
men he-man employed
Happy the man who sees a God employed in all the good and ills that checker life.
fall men giving
Great offices will have great talents, and God gives to every man the virtue, temper, understanding, taste, that lifts him into life, and lets him fall just in the niche he was ordained to fill.
love son mercy
Ye therefore who love mercy, teach your sons to love it, too.
love country faults
England, with all thy faults I love thee still, My country!
air flames light
Unless a love of virtue light the flame, Satire is, more than those he brands, to blame; He hides behind a magisterial air He own offences, and strips others' bare.
science age earth
Some drill and bore The solid earth, and from the strata there Extract a register, by which we learn, That he who made it, and reveal'd its date To Moses, was mistaken in its age.