Quotes by Abraham Cowley

Abraham Cowley

English poet

Category: Poets (Contemporary)

Quotes 1 till 15 of 56.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  A mighty pain to love it is,
  And 't is a pain that pain to miss;
  But of all pains, the greatest pain
  It is to love, but love in vain.
  Source: From Anacreon, vii. Gold; reported in Bartletts Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Ah! wretched and too solitary he who loves not his own company!

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave, May I a small House and a large Garden have. And a few Friends, and many Books both true, Both wise, and both delightful too. And since Love ne'er will from me flee, A mistress moderately fair, And good as Guardian angels are, Only belov'd and loving me.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  All this world's noise appears to me a dull, ill-acted comedy!

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  An harmless flaming meteor shone for hair,
  And fell adown his shoulders with loose care.
  Source: Davideis, book ii, line 95. Compare: Loose his beard and hoary hair / Streamd like a meteor to the troubled air, Thomas Gray, The Bard, i. 2.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  As for being much known by sight, and pointed out, I cannot comprehend the honor that lies withal; whatsoever it be, every mountebank has it more than the best doctor.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise, He who defers this work from day to day, Does on a river's bank expecting stay, Till the whole stream, which stopped him, should be gone, That runs, and as it runs, for ever will run on.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Curiosity does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear nor wish th' approaches of the last.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Fill all the glasses there, for why
  Should every creature drink but I?
  Why, man of morals, tell me why?
  Source: From Anacreon, ii. Drinking; reported in Bartletts Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Fond archer, Hope! who tak'st thy aim so far,
  That still or short, or wide thine arrows are!
  Source: Against Hope.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  For the whole world, without a native home, Is nothing but a prison of larger room.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Gold begets in brethren hate; Gold in families debate; Gold does friendship separate; Gold does civil wars create.

• Abraham Cowley

  

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  Happy insect! what can be In happiness compared to thee? Fed with nourishment divine, The dewy morning's gentle wine! Nature waits upon thee still, And thy verdant cup does fill; 'Tis fill'd wherever thou dost tread, Nature's self's thy Ganymede.