Quote#Wisdom
Man disobeys, and deity disowns me
Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Hatred and vengeance, my eternal portion", st. 3 (wr. c. 1774; pub. 1816).
English (original)
Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.
— William Cowper
More from William Cowper
But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.
Oh! I could thresh his old jacket till I made his pension jingle in his pockets.
Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.
Beware of desp'rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.
Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.
Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.