Thomas Chatterton Quotes

• It is my PRIDE, my damned, native, unconquerable Pride, that plunges me into Distraction. You must know that 19 - 20th of my Composition is Pride. I must either live a Slave, a Servant; to have no Will of my own, no Sentiments of my own which I may freely declare as such; --or DIE --perplexing alternative!

  Thomas Chatterton

  Pride, Alternatives, Unconquerable Will

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• O, Winter! Put away thy snowy pride;
  O, Spring! Neglect the cowslip and the bell;
  O, Summer! Throw thy pears and plums aside;
  O, Autumn! Bid the grape with poison swell.

  Thomas Chatterton

  Summer, Spring, Autumn

  Thomas Chatterton, George Gregory (1803). “The Works of Thomas Chatterton ...: Life of Chatterton, by G. Gregory. Miscellaneous poems”, p.31

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• Happy (if mortals can be) is the man,Who, not by priest but Reason, rules his span:Reason, to its possessor a sure guide,Reason, a thorn in Revelation's side.

  Thomas Chatterton

  Men, Sides, Reason

  Thomas Chatterton (1842). “The Poetical Works with Notices of His Life, History of the Rowley Controversy, a Selection of His Letters and Notes Critical and Explanatory: I-II”, p.440

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• The gatherd storme is rype; the bigge drops falle;The forswat meadowes smethe, and drenche the raine;The comyng ghastness do the cattle pall,And the full flockes are drivynge ore the plaine;Dashde from the cloudes the waters flott againe;The welkin opes; the yellow levynne flies;And the hot fierie smothe in the wide lowings dies.

  Thomas Chatterton

  Yellow, Water, Hot

  Thomas Chatterton (1842). “Poetical Works: With Notices of His Life, History of the Rowley Controversy, a Selection of His Letters and Notes Critical and Explanatory”, p.141

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• There is a time for all things - except marriage, my dear.

  Thomas Chatterton

  Love, Marriage, Dear God

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• Almighty Framer of the Skies!O let our pure devotion rise,Like Incense in thy Sight!Wrapt in impenetrable Shade,The Texture of our Souls were made,Till thy Command gave Light.

  Thomas Chatterton

  Sky, Light, Sight

  Thomas Chatterton, Charles Bonnycastle Willcox (1842). “The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton: Acknowledged poems. Chatterton's will. Miscellaneous prose works”, p.324

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• How shall we celebrate the day,When God appeared in mortal clay,The mark of worldly scorn;When the Archangel's heavenly Lays,Attempted the Redeemer's Praise,And hail'd Salvation's Morn!

  Thomas Chatterton

  Clay, Praise, Salvation

  Thomas Chatterton, George Gregory (1803). “The Works of Thomas Chatterton ...: Life of Chatterton, by G. Gregory. Miscellaneous poems”, p.5

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• Haste to thie kiste, thie onlie dortoure bedde.Cale, as the claie whiche will gre on thie hedde,Is Charitie and Love aminge highe elves;Knightis and Barons live for pleasure and themselves.

  Thomas Chatterton

  And Love, Haste, Pleasure

  Thomas Chatterton, Charles Bonnycastle Willcox (1842). “The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton: With Notices of His Life, History of the Rowley Controversy, a Selection of His Letters, and Notes Critical and Explanatory”, p.140

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