Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk
William Cowper Author
Gender: Male
Citizenship: England
Born: Nov 26, 1731
Died: Apr 25, 1800
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.
After being institutionalised for insanity in the period 1763–65, Cowper found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns. He continued to suffer doubt and, after a dream in 1773, believed that he was doomed to eternal damnation. He recovered and wrote more religious hymns.
His religious sentiment and association with curate John Newton led to much of the poetry for which he is best remembered. His poem "Light Shining out of Darkness" gave English the phrase: "God moves in a mysterious way/His wonders to perform."
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
God
Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay.
positive
Thus happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.
happiness & nature
Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
death & hope
Knowledge is proud that it knows so much wisdom is humble that it knows no more.
knowledge & wisdom