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Thomas Gray
108 quotes
“'Twas Spring, 'twas Summer, all was gay Now Autumn bears a cloud brow The flowers of Spring are swept way And Summer fruits desert the bough.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Daughter of Jove, relentless power, Thou tamer of the human breast, Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour The bad affright, afflict the best!”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1742 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hymn to Adversity, St. 1 (1742)
“What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know, And from her own she learned to melt at others' woe.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1742 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hymn to Adversity, St. 2 (1742)
“In glittering arms and glory dressed, High he rears his ruby crest. There the thundering strokes begin, There the press and there the din; Talymalfra's rocky shore Echoing to the battle's roar.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1764 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Triumphs of Owen. A Fragment", from Mr. Evans's Specimens of the Welch Poetry (1764)
“Where his glowing eye−balls turn, Thousand banners round him burn. Where he points his purple spear, Hasty, hasty Rout is there, Marking with indignant eye Fear to stop and shame to fly. There Confusion, Terror's child, Conflict fierce and Ruin wild, Agony that pants for breath, Despair and honourable Death.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1764 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Triumphs of Owen. A Fragment", from Mr. Evans's Specimens of the Welch Poetry (1764)
“Now my weary lips I close; Leave me, leave me to repose!”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1761 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Descent of Odin, Line 71 (1761)
“Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtles in the darkened air.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1761 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Fatal Sisters (1761), line 3
“Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune, He had not the method of making a fortune.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1761 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On His Own Character (1761)
“I shall be but a shrimp of an author.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1768 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Horace Walpole (February 25, 1768)
“Comus and his midnight crew.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1769 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ode for Music (1769), line 2
“While bright-eyed Science watches round.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1769 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ode for Music (1769), Chorus, line 3
“Sweet is the breath of vernal shower, The bee's collected treasures sweet, Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet The still small voice of gratitude.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) first seen 1769 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ode for Music (1769), V, line 8
“And weep the more, because I weep in vain.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sonnet, On the Death of Mr. West; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“Rich windows that exclude the light, And passages that lead to nothing.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Long Story; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“The social smile, the sympathetic tear.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Education and Government; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“When love could teach a monarch to be wise, And gospel-light first dawn'd from Bullen's eyes.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Education and Government; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“Now as the Paradisiacal pleasures of the Mahometans consist in playing upon the flute and lying with Houris, be mine to read eternal new romances of Marivaux and Crebillon.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: To Mr. West, Letter iv, Third Series; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“Behind the steps that Misery treads Approaching Comfort view: The hues of bliss more brightly glow Chastised by sabler tints of woe, And blended form, with artful strife, The strength and harmony of life.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“See the wretch that long has tost On the thorny bed of pain, At length repair his vigour lost, And breathe and walk again: The meanest floweret of the vale, The simplest note that swells the gale, The common sun, the air, the skies, To him are opening paradise.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And hie him home, at evening's close, To sweet repast and calm repose.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From toil he wins his spirits light, From busy day the peaceful night; Rich, from the very want of wealth, In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From Helicon's harmonious springs A thousand rills their mazy progress take.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Glance their many-twinkling feet.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O'er her warm cheek and rising bosom move The bloom of young Desire and purple light of Love.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Her track, where'er the goddess roves, Glory pursue, and gen'rous shame, Th' unconquerable mind, 3 and freedom's holy flame.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Far from the sun and summer-gale, In thy green lap was Nature's Darling laid.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He passed the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire-blaze, Where angels tremble, while they gaze, He saw; but blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hark, his hands the lyre explore! Bright-eyed Fancy hovering o'er Scatters from her pictured urn Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate, Beneath the good how far,—but far above the great.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ye distant spires, ye antique towers, That crown the wat'ry glade.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ah, happy hills! ah, pleasing shade! Ah, fields beloved in vain! Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A stranger yet to pain! I feel the gales that from ye blow A momentary bliss bestow.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Still as they run they look behind, They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed, Less pleasing when possest; The tear forgot as soon as shed, The sunshine of the breast.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Alas, regardless of their doom, The little victims play! No sense have they of ills to come, Nor care beyond today.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ah, tell them they are men!”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Grim-visaged comfortless Despair.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And moody madness laughing wild Amid severest woe.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To each his suff'rings: all are men, Condemn'd alike to groan, The tender for another's pain; Th' unfeeling for his own. Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“'Twas on a lofty vase's side, Where China's gayest art had dyed The azure flowers, that blow; Demurest of the tabby kind, The pensive Selima reclined, Gazed on the lake below.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What female heart can gold despise? What cat's averse to fish?”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred; Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard. A favourite has no friend!”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Not all that tempts your wandering eyes And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; Nor all that glisters gold.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, And all the air a solemn stillness holds, Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r The moping owl does to the moon complain.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The breezy call of incense-breathing morn.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or busy housewife ply her evening care: No children run to lisp their sire's return, Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor.”
Thomas Gray (1716–1771) said by 1771 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source