Quote #41

Pernicious weed! whose scent the fair annoys, Unfriendly to society's chief joys, Thy worst effect is banishing for hours The sex whose presence civilizes ours.

More from William Cowper

  1. A moral, sensible, and well-bred man Will not affront me, and no other can.
  2. I cannot talk with civet in the room, A fine puss-gentleman that's all perfume.
  3. He would not, with a peremptory tone, Assert the nose upon his face his own.
  4. The solemn fop; significant and budge; A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge.
  5. 'Tis hard if all is false that I advance, A fool must now and then be right by chance.
  6. His wit invites you by his looks to come, But when you knock it never is at home.
  7. No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, Till half mankind were like himself possess'd.
  8. I pity bashful men, who feel the pain Of fancied scorn and undeserved disdain, And bear the marks upon a blushing face, Of needless shame, …

All William Cowper quotes