The modern Agnostic improves upon the ancient by adding "I don't care" to "I don't know. Coventry Patmore More Quotes by Coventry Patmore More Quotes From Coventry Patmore To one who waits, all things reveal themselves so long as you have the courage not to deny in the darkness what you have seen in the light. Coventry Patmore light courage long Fortunately for themselves and the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come of a few fools having the "courage of their convictions." Coventry Patmore strength men believe A saint is a person who does almost everything any other decent person does, only somewhat better and with a totally different motive. Coventry Patmore saint different doe Great is his faith who dares believe his own eyes. Coventry Patmore eye faith believe The woman is the man's glory, and she naturally delights in the praises which are assurances that she is fulfilling her function; and she gives herself to him who succeeds in convincing her that she, of all others, is best able to discharge it for him. A woman without this kind of "vanity" is a monster. Coventry Patmore vanity women giving One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years. Coventry Patmore truth wise men Ask abundantly, for the measure of your asking shall be that of your receiving. Coventry Patmore receiving asks asking A woman is a foreign land. Coventry Patmore foreign-lands land It is one thing to be blind, and another to be in darkness. Coventry Patmore one-thing blind darkness Ah, whither shall a maiden flee, When a bold youth so swift pursues, And siege of tenderest courtesy, With hope perseverant, still renews! Coventry Patmore siege courtesy youth Uncommon things must be said in common words. Coventry Patmore uncommon said common Creation differs from subsistence only as the first leap of a fountain differs from its continuance. Coventry Patmore fountain creation firsts A moment's fruition of a true felicity is enough and eternity not too much. Coventry Patmore fruition too-much moments Books are influential in proportion to their obscurity, provided that the obscurity be that of inexpressible Realities. The Bible is the most obscure book in the world. He must be a great fool who thinks he understands the plainest chapter of it. Coventry Patmore book reality thinking To have noughtIs to have all things without care or thought! Coventry Patmore care all-things The promises of God are samples of what is promised; as a handful of wheat is of the barn. Coventry Patmore barns wheat promise The ardour chills us which we do not share. Coventry Patmore chill share Then sleep the seasons, full of might; While slowly swells the pod, And rounds the peach, and in the night The mushroom bursts the sod. The winter comes: the frozen rut Is bound with silver bars; the white drift heaps against the hut; and night is pierced with stars. Coventry Patmore stars sleep time Life is not life at all without delight. Coventry Patmore coventry delight life-is Those who know God know that it is quite a mistake to suppose that there are only five senses. Coventry Patmore five-senses god mistake