But oars alone can ne'er prevail

Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Human Frailty", l. 21 (1779).

English (original)

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.

— William Cowper

Beware of desp'rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.

Oh! I could thresh his old jacket till I made his pension jingle in his pockets.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.

Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.

Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.