61 Famous Quotes by Thomas Gray
12/26/1716 - 7/30/1771
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About Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray was an English poet, letter-writer, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University. He is widely known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, published in 1751.
Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows,
While proudly rising o'er the azure realm
In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes,
Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm.
Zephyrs
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: The Bard (pt. II, st. 2, l. 9)
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E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.
Fire
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Elegy in a Country Churchyard (st. 23), Gray says it was suggested by Plutarch
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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.
Evening
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Elegy in a Country Churchyard
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There scatter'd oft the earliest of ye Year
By Hands unseen are showers of Vi'lets found;
The Redbreast loves to build and warble there,
And little Footsteps lightly print the ground.
Footsteps
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Elegy in a Country Churchyard, his manuscript
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Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
Obscurity
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Elegy in a Country Churchyard (st. 14)
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Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear.
Ocean
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Elegy in a Country Churchyard (st. 14)
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From Helicon's harmonious springs
A thousand rills their mazy progress take.
Brooks
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: The Progress of Poesy (I, i, l. 3)
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The Attic warbler pours her throat
Responsive to the cuckoo's note.
Cuckoos
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Ode on the Spring
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Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
He had not the method of making a fortune.
Bribery
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: On His Own Character
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They hear a voice in every wind,
And snatch a fearful joy.
Joy
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: On a Distant Prospect of Eton College (st. 4)
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To warm their little loves the birds complain.
Birds
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Sonnet on the Death of Richard West
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Tho' he inherit
Not the pride, nor ample pinion,
That the Theban eagle bear,
Sailing with supreme dominion
Thro' the azure deep of air.
Eagles
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Progress of Poesy
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The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast.
Tears
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Eton College (st. 5)
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Ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.
Tears
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Progress of Poesy (III, 1, l. 12)
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As to posterity, I may ask (with somebody whom I have forgot)
what has it ever done to oblige me?
Posterity
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Letter to Dr. Wharton
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To brisk notes in cadence beating
Glance their many-twinkling feet.
Dancing
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: Progress of Poesy (pt. I, st. 3, l. 10)
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Alas! regardless of their doom,
The little victims play;
No sense have they of ills to come,
Nor care beyond to-day.
Childhood
Quotes, by Thomas Gray , Source: On a Distant Prospect of Eton College (st. 6)
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