Thomas Gray Quotes

Quotes about:

• Youth smiles without any reason. It is one of its chiefest charms.

  Thomas Gray

  Smile, Youth, Reason

  56 Copy quote

• Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.

  Thomas Gray

  Poetry, Poetic, Breathe

  'The Progress of Poesy' (1757) l. 110

  31 Copy quote

• Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.

  Thomas Gray

  Inspirational, Wise, Ignorance

  "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" l. 99 (1747)

  16 Copy quote

• The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

  Thomas Gray

  Path, Glory, Graves

  "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" l. 36 (1751)

  9 Copy quote

• From toil he wins his spirits light, From busy day the peaceful night; Rich, from the very want of wealth, In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.

  Thomas Gray

  Peace, Winning, Night

  Thomas Gray, William Mason (1827). “The works of Thomas Gray, with memoirs of his life and writings, by W. Mason”, p.408

  16 Copy quote

• They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.

  Thomas Gray

  Wind, Voice, Joy

  'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College' (1747) l. 38

  6 Copy quote

• Commerce changes entirely the fate and genius of nations, by communicating arts and opinions, circulating money, and introducing the materials of luxury; she first opens and polishes the mind, then corrupts and enervates both that and the body.

  Thomas Gray

  Fate, Genius, Commerce

  "The Works of Thomas Gray: Containing His Poems and Correspondence, with Memoirs of His Life and Writings".

  22 Copy quote

• Visions of glory, spare my aching sight! Ye unborn ages, crowd not on my soul!

  Thomas Gray

  Sight, Soul, Vision

  Thomas Gray, John Mitford (1816). “The poems, with critical notes, a life of the author, and an essay on his poetry, by J. Mitford”, p.61

  19 Copy quote

• Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
  And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;
  Nor all that glisters gold.

  Thomas Gray

  Heart, Eye, Gold

  "Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat" l. 40 (1748)

  16 Copy quote

• Men will believe anything at all provided they are under no obligation to believe it.

  Thomas Gray

  Believe, Men, Belief

  Thomas Gray (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Thomas Gray (Illustrated)”, p.304, Delphi Classics

  17 Copy quote

• Thought would destroy their paradise.

  Thomas Gray

  Thinking, Paradise, Destruction

  'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College' (1747) l. 91

  4 Copy quote

• Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

  Thomas Gray

  Ocean, Flower, Dark

  "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" l. 53 (1751)

  14 Copy quote

• What female heart can gold despise? What cat 's averse to fish?

  Thomas Gray

  Heart, Cat, Gold

  1747 Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes, l.23-4.

  3 Copy quote

• Hell is full of good intentions.

  Thomas Gray

  Good Intentions, Hell, Intention

  15 Copy quote

• Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile The short and simple annals of the poor.

  Thomas Gray

  Simple, Simplicity, Poor

  "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" l. 29 (1751)

  3 Copy quote

• Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

  Thomas Gray

  Death, Sleep, Cells

  "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" l. 13 (1751

  5 Copy quote

• Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play! No sense have they of ills to come nor care beyond today.

  Thomas Gray

  Children, Parenting, Play

  'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College' (1747) l. 51

  7 Copy quote

• In the evening, I walked alone down to the Lake by the side of Crow Park after sunset and saw the solemn coloring of night draw on, the last gleam of sunshine fading away on the hilltops, the seep serene of the asters, and the long shadows of the mountains thrown across them, till they nearly touched the hithermost shore. At distance hear the murmur of many waterfalls not audible in the day-time. Wished for the moon, but she was dark to me and silent, hid in her vacant interlunar cave.

  Thomas Gray

  Distance, Sunset, Dark

  10 Copy quote

• How low, how little are the proud, How indigent the great!

  Thomas Gray

  Proud, Littles, Lows

  1748 Ode on the Spring, l.19-20.

  3 Copy quote

• The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea, The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

  Thomas Gray

  Wind, Darkness, Tolls

  "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" l. 1 (1751)

  103 Copy quote

• A fav'rite has no friend!

  Thomas Gray

  Friendship, No Friends, Rite

  Thomas Gray, Thomas PARK (F.S.A.) (1808). “The poetical works of Thomas Gray, etc. With a separate titlepage bearing the imprint of John Sharpe, London, dated 1805”, p.12

  12 Copy quote

• One principal characteristic of vice in the present age is the contempt of fame.

  Thomas Gray

  Age, Vices, Fame

  Thomas Gray, John MITFORD (Vicar of Benhall.) (1866). “The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. [With “The Life of Thomas Gray. By John Mitford”.]”, p.152

  5 Copy quote

• Any fool may write a most valuable book by chance, if he will only tell us what he heard and saw with veracity.

  Thomas Gray

  Book, Writing, Fool

  Letter to Horace Walpole, 25 February 1768, in H. W. Starr (ed.) 'Correspondence of Thomas Gray' (1971) vol. 3, letter 471

  10 Copy quote

• Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust, or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death?

  Thomas Gray

  Dust, Voice, Honor

  1751 Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, l.41-4.

  3 Copy quote

• As to posterity, I may ask what has it ever done to oblige me?

  Thomas Gray

  Done, May, Asks

  Thomas Gray (1825). “The works of Thomas Gray”

  9 Copy quote

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