In best understandings, sin began, Angels sinned first, then Devils, and then Man. John Donne More Quotes by John Donne More Quotes From John Donne I throw myself down in my chamber, and I call and invite God and his angels thither. John Donne whiningchamberangel Tis true, 'tis day; what though it be? O wilt thou therefore rise from me? Why should we rise, because 'tis light? Did we lie down, because 'twas night? Love which in spite of darkness brought us hither Should in despite of light keep us together. John Donne lightnightlying 'Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's. John Donne midnightyears At most, the greatest persons are but great wens, and excrescences; men of wit and delightful conversation, but as morals for ornament, except they be so incorporated into the body of the world that they contribute something to the sustentation of the whole. John Donne greatnessmenworld All Kings, and all their favorites, All glory of honors, beauties, wits, The sun itself, which makes times, as they pass, Is elder by a year, now, than it was When thou and I first one another saw: All other things, to their destruction draw, Only our love hath no decay; This, no tomorrow hash, nor yesterday, Running, it never runs from us away, But truly keeps his first, last, everlasting day. John Donne elderlykingsrunning This Extasie doth unperplex (We said) and tell us what we love, Wee see by this, it was not sexe, Wee see, we saw not what did move: But as all severall soules contain Mixture of things, they know not what, Love, these mixt souls, doth mixe againe. Loves mysteries in soules doe grow, But yet the body is his booke. John Donne soullovemoving If I lose at play, I blaspheme; if my fellow loses, he blasphemes. So, God is always the loser. John Donne loserplaysports Affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. John Donne sufferingjoymen For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull privations, and lean emptiness He ruined me, and I am re-begot Of absence, darkness, death; things which are not. John Donne darknessloveart Festive alcohol sometimes leads to an excess of honesty. John Donne alcoholhonestytruth But he who loveliness within Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who color loves, and skin, Loves but their oldest clothes. John Donne clothescolorlove That which attempts to elevate the ugly to the level of beauty becomes neither; but an obscenity. John Donne blinguglylevels Enjoyment always has a spoiling, otherwise it cannot be so. John Donne enjoymentjoyhappiness Sleep is pain's easiest salve, and doth fulfil John Donne painofficesleep When God's hand is bent to strike, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God ; but to fall out of the hands of the living God is a horror beyond our expression, beyond our imagination. John Donne expressionhandsfall . . . Change is the nursery Of musicke, joy, life and eternity. John Donne changejoylife Let me arrest thy thoughts, wonder with me, John Donne racescienceart As virtuous men pass mildly away, and whisper to their souls to go, whilst some of their sad friends do say, the breath goes now, and some say no. John Donne virtuoussoulmen As peace is of all goodness, so war is an emblem, a hieroglyphic, of all misery. John Donne hieroglyphicsmiserywar Humiliation is the beginning of sanctification; and as without this, without holiness, no man shall see God, though he pore whole nights upon his Bible; so without that, without humility, no man shall hear God speak to his soul, though he hear three two-hour sermons every day. John Donne humilitymennight
