Poet

Explore 1478 quotes by Poets

Lovely it is, when the winds are churning up the waves on the great sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone else; not because it's an enjoyable pleasure that somebody is in difficulties, but because it's lovely to realize what troubles you are yourself spared.

Lucretius Carus

De Rerum Natura

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Topic

Ocean and sea Safety

Author

Lucretius Carus

Source

De Rerum Natura

Medium

Poem

Genre

Philosophical literature Didactic poem

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 1.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 1.

Even if strength fail, boldness at least will
Deserve praise: in great endeavors even to have
Had the will is enough.

Propertius

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Topic

Taking risks Courage

Author

Propertius

Source

Elegies

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

15 BC 10s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Propertius. ἐλεγείᾱ [Elegies]. c. 40 BC, bk. 2, no. 10.

Current Citation

Propertius. Elegies, translated by G. P. Goold. Harvard University Press, 1990, bk. 2, no. 10.

I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.

Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar

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Topic

Self-knowledge Introspection

Speaker

Esther Greenwood

Author

Sylvia Plath

Source

The Bell Jar

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Plath, Sylvia [published as Victoria Lucas]. The Bell Jar. William Heinemann, 1963.

Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.

William Shakespeare

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

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Topic

New love Lost love Falling in love Love

Speaker

Proteus

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 4.

Of all human follies there's none could be greater
Than trying to render our fellow-men better.

Molière

The Misanthrope

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Topic

Helping others

Speaker

Philinte

Author

Molière

Source

The Misanthrope

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

French

Time

1666 1660s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Molière. Le Misanthrope ou l'Atrabilaire amoureux [The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover]. King's Players, 4 June 1666, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris, France, act 1, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Moliere. "The Misanthrope." The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays, translated by Maya Slater. Oxford University Press, 2008, act 1, sc. 1.

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license.

John Milton

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates

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Topic

Licentiousness Libertinism Freedom

Author

John Milton

Source

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1649 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Milton, John. The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. London: Matthew Simons, 1649.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

It is public scandal that constitutes offence, and to sin in secret is not to sin at all.

Molière

Tartuffe

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Topic

Moral theory Morality

Speaker

Tartuffe

Author

Molière

Source

Tartuffe

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

French

Time

1669 1660s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Moliere. Le Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur [Tartuffe or the Impostor]. 5 Feb. 1669, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris, France, act 4, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Moliere. "Tartuffe." The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays, translated by Maya Slater. Oxford University Press, 2008, act 4, sc. 5.

Man has his will,—but woman has her way!

Oliver Wendell Holmes

This is It

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Topic

Gender relations Men and women

Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Source

This is It The Atlantic

Medium

Magazine

Language

English

Time

1857 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Sr. "This Is It." The Atlantic Monthly. Boston: Phillips, Sampson and Company, Dec. 1857.

There is not a fiercer hell than the failure in a great object.

John Keats

Endymion

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Topic

Failure

Author

John Keats

Source

Endymion

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1818 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Keats, John. Endymion. London: Taylor and Hessey, 1818, preface.

Current Citation

Keats, John. "Endymion." John Keats: Selected Poems, edited by John Barnard. Penguin Classics, 2007, preface.

Never pain to tell thy love
Love that never told can be
For the gentle wind does move
Silently invisibly

William Blake

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Topic

Limits of language Communication Love

Author

William Blake

Source

Never Seek to Tell Thy Love

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1807 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Blake, William. Poem written in his notebook. c. 1792.

Current Citation

Blake, William. "Never Pain to Tell Thy Love." William Blake: Selected Poems, edited by Nicholas Shrimpton. Oxford University Press, 2019.

Cudgel thy brains no more about it.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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Topic

Letting go

Speaker

Gravedigger

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Hamlet

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 5, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 1.

Love, who is most beautiful among the immortal gods, the melter of limbs, overwhelms in their hearts the intelligence and wise counsel of all gods and all men.

Hesiod

Theogony

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Topic

Power of love Love

Author

Hesiod

Source

Theogony

Medium

Poem

Language

Greek

Time

700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hesiod. Θεογονία [Theogony]. c. 700 BC, l. 120-121.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Theogony." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 120-121.

Virtue extends our days: he lives two lives who relives his past with pleasure.

Martial

Epigrams

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Topic

Memories

Author

Martial

Source

Epigrams

Medium

Epigram

Language

Latin

Time

103 100s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Martial. Epigrammata [Epigrams]. c. 102 AD, bk. 10, no. 23.

Current Citation

Martial. Epigrams, translated by Gideon Nisbet. Oxford University Press, 2015, bk. 10, no. 34.

All that is beautiful and noble is the result of reason and calculation.

Charles Baudelaire

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Topic

Reason Rationalism

Author

Charles Baudelaire

Source

Éloge du maquillage

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1863 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Baudelaire, Charles. "Éloge du maquillage [In Praise of Makeup]." The Painter of Modern Life. Paris: Le Figaro, c. 1863.

Current Citation

Baudelaire, Charles. "The Painter of Modern Life." Baudelaire: Selected Writings on Art and Literature, translated by P. E. Charvet. Penguin Classics, 1993.

Pleasant it is, when over a great sea the winds trouble the waters, to gaze from shore upon another's great tribulation: not because any man's troubles are a delectable joy, but because to perceive what ills you are free from yourself is pleasant.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

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Topic

Misfortunes of others

Author

Lucretius

Source

On the Nature of Things

Medium

Poem

Genre

Didactic poem Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 1.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 1.

For courage mounteth with occasion.

William Shakespeare

The Life and Death of King John

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Topic

Courage

Speaker

Austria

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Life and Death of King John

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Life and Death of King John." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, 1623, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "King John." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

What's done cannot be undone.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

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Topic

Actions have consequences The road not taken The past

Speaker

Lady Macbeth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 5, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 1.

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw.

Edgar Allan Poe

Scribner's Monthly

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Topic

Feeling different

Author

Edgar Allan Poe

Source

Alone Scribner's Monthly

Medium

Poem Magazine

Language

English

Time

1849 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Poe, Edgar Allan. "Alone." Scribner's Monthly, Sept. 1875, I. 1.

Current Citation

Poe, Edgar Allan. "Alone." Edgar Allen Poe: Poetry and Tales, edited by Patrick F. Quinn. Library of America, 1984, I. 1.

When sorrows come, they come not single spies,
But in battalions.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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Topic

When it rains it pours Suffering

Speaker

King Claudius

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Hamlet

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 4, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 5.

Truth sits upon the lips of dying men.

Matthew Arnold

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Topic

Confession Truth

Author

Matthew Arnold

Source

Sohrab and Rustum

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1853 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Arnold, Matthew. "Sohrab and Rustum." Poems: A New Edition. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1853.

Current Citation

Arnold, Matthew. "Sohrab and Rustum." Dover Beach and Other Poems. Dover Publications, 2012.