William Shenstone Quotes

1714–1763 England

William Shenstone (18 November 1714 – 11 February 1763) was an English poet, essayist and one of the earliest practitoners of landscape gardening through the development of his estate, The Leasowes.

England
Essayists
Poets

Also known as: Shenstone, William

Random William Shenstone quote

41 quotes

Theirs is the present who can praise the past.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

A man of remarkable genius may afford to pass by a piece of wit, if it happens to border on abuse. A little genius is obliged to catch at every witticism indiscriminately.

Essays on Men and Manners (1764)

Second thoughts oftentimes are the very worst of all thoughts.

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle size are alone entangled in.

Essays on Men and Manners (1764)

Independency may be found in comparative, as well as absolute abundance: I mean when a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.

Essays on Men and Manners (1764)

Sloth views the tow'rs of fame with envious eyes;
Desirous still, still impotent to rise.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

Let the gull'd fool the toil of war pursue,
Where bleed the many to enrich the few.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

Perish the lover, whose imperfect flame
Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov'd.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

I trimm'd my lamp, consumed the midnight oil.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

Her cap, far whiter than the driven snow,
Emblem right meet of decency does yield.

The Schoolmistress (1737)

A little bench of heedless bishops here,
And there a chancellor in embryo.

The Schoolmistress (1737)

A poet that fails in writing becomes often a morose critic; the weak and insipid white wine makes at length excellent vinegar.

Sloth views the towers of fame with envious eyes,
Desirous still, still impotent to rise.

Their books of stature small they take in hand,
Which with pellucid horn secured are;
To save from finger wet the letters fair.

Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,
May sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome, at an inn.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

I trimmed my lamp, consumed the midnight oil.

I have found out a gift for my fair;
I have found where the wood-pigeons breed.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

So sweetly she bade me adieu,
I thought that she bade me return.

Works, Vol. I: Verse (1764)

Prayer is not used to inform, for God is omniscient; not to move compassion, for God is without passions; not to show gratitude, for God knows our hearts. May not a man, that has true notions, be a pious man, though he be silent?

Whoe'er has travel'd life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,
May sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome, at an inn.

Attribution

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