155 Quotes by Robert Southey

Beasts, birds, and insects, even to the minutest and meanest of their kind, act with the unerring providence of instinct; man, the while, who possesses a higher faculty, abuses it, and therefore goes blundering on.

Ye who dwell at home, Ye do not know the terrors of the main.

Few people give themselves time to be friends.

There was a time when I believed in the persuadability of man, and had the mania of man-mending. Experience has taught me better. The ablest physician can do little in the great lazar-house of society. He acts the wisest part who retires from the contagion.

Ay! idleness! the rich folks never fail To find some reason why the poor deserve Their miseries.

The pulpit is a clergyman's parade; the parish is his field of active service.

A house is never perfectly furnished for enjoyment unless there is a child in it rising three years old, and a kitten rising three weeks.

Mild arch of promise! on the evening sky Thou shinest fair with many a lovely ray, Each in the other melting.

She comes majestic with her swelling sails, The gallant Ship: along her watery way, Homeward she drives before the favouring gales; Now flirting at their length the streamers play, And now they ripple with the ruffling breeze.