William Cowper (1731–1800) 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.
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Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.
—William Cowper
The rich are too indolent, the poor too weak, to bear the insupportable fatigue of thinking.
—William Cowper
Topics: Thought
Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.
—William Cowper
Topics: Knowledge
Absence of occupation is not rest; a mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
—William Cowper
Topics: Idleness, Leisure, Absence, Occupation
Habits are soon assumed; but when we endeavor to strip them off, it is being flayed alive.
—William Cowper
Topics: Habit
A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
—William Cowper
Topics: Happiness, Living, Life, Idleness
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: Wisdom, Humility, Knowledge
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