Thomas Gray Quotes

But knowledge to their eyes her ample page Rich with the spoils of time did ne'er unroll; Chill Penury repressed their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul.

Any fool may write a most valuable book by chance, if he will only tell us what he heard and saw with veracity.

I shall be but a shrimp of an author.

England, so long mistress of the sea, Where winds and waves confess her sovereignty, Her ancient triumphs yet on high shall bear And reign the sovereign of the conquered air.

Bright-eyed Fancy, hov'ring o'er, Scatters from her pictured urn Thoughts that breathe and words that burn.

The meanest flowret of the vale, / The simplest note that swells the gale, / The common sun, the air, and skies, / To him are opening paradise.

They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.

Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast The little tyrant of his fields withstood, Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood.

Here rests his head upon the lap of earth, A youth to fortune and to fame unknown: Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth, And Melancholy mark'd him for her own.

E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries, E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.

There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief, without the help of other argument.

Hands that the rod of empire might have sway'd, Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.

What female heart can gold despise? What cat 's averse to fish?

And truth severe, by fairy fiction drest.

The applause of list'ning senates to command, The threats of pain and ruin to despise, To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land, And read their history in a nation's eyes.

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.

Low on his funeral couch he lies!

If the best man's faults were written on his forehead, he would draw his hat over his eyes.

We frolic while 'tis May.