Andrew Marvell Quotes

1621–1678 England

Andrew Marvell (31 March 1621 – 16 August 1678) was an English metaphysical poet, and the son of an Anglican clergyman. As a metaphysical, he is associated with John Donne and George Herbert.

England
Poets

Also known as: Marvell, Andrew

Random Andrew Marvell quote

60 quotes

For though the whole world cannot show such another,
Yet we’d better by far have him than his brother.

The world in all doth but two nations bear —
The good, the bad; and these mixed everywhere.

To make a bank was a great plot of state;
Invent a shovel, and be a magistrate.

The Character of Holland (1653)

An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.

No creature loves an empty space;
Their bodies measure out their place.

Where the remote Bermudas ride,
In th' ocean's bosom unespied.

Among the blind the one-eye'd blinkard reigns.

Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime.

If these the Times, then this must be the Man.

Had it lived long, it would have been
Lilies without, roses within.

Society is all but rude,
To this delicious solitude.

How fit is he to sway
That can so well obey.

’Tis not what once it was, the world,
But a rude heap together hurled.

And all the way, to guide their chime,
With falling oars they kept the time.

Such was that happy garden-state,
While man there walked without a mate.

He is translation’s thief that addeth more,
As much as he that taketh from the store
Of the first author.

To His Worthy Friend Dr. Witty (1651)

He hangs in shades the Orange bright,
Like golden lamps in a green night.

Gather the flowers, but spare the buds.

The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.

To His Coy Mistress (1650)

Art indeed is long, but life is short.

Upon the Death of Lord Hastings (1649)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Andrew Marvell (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.