Quotes by John Clare

About John Clare:

John Clare is now often considered to be among the most important 19th-century poets. His biographer Jonathan Bate states that Clare was "the greatest labouring-class poet that England has ever produced. No one has ever written more powerfully of nature, of a rural childhood, and of the alienated and unstable self".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I hate the very noise of troublous man Who did and does me all the harm he can. Free from the world I would a prisoner be And my own shadow all my company

John Clare

In mid-wood silence, thus, how sweet to be; Where all the noises, that on peace intrude, Come from the chittering cricket, bird, and bee, Whose songs have charms to sweeten solitude.

John Clare

The best way to avoid a bad action is by doing a good one, for there is no difficulty in the world like that of trying to do nothing.

John Clare

I am, as far as my politics reaches, 'King and Country' - no 'Innovations in Religion and Government' say I.

John Clare

My fears are agitated to an extreme degree and the dread of death involves me in a stupor of chilling indisposition.

John Clare

If life had a second edition, how I would correct the proofs.

John Clare

And all the charms of face or voice Which I in others see, Are but the recollected choice Of what I feel for thee.

John Clare

I'm John Clare now. I was Byron and Shakespeare formerly.

John Clare

I had a variety of minds about me and all of them unsettled.

John Clare

I am gennerally understood tho I do not use that awkward squad of pointings called commas colons semicolons etc.

John Clare

Yet simple souls, their faith it knows no stint: Things least to be believed are most preferred. All counterfeits, as from truth's sacred mint, Are readily believed if once put down in print

John Clare

I find more pleasure in wandering the fields than in musing among my silent neighbours who are insensible to everything but toiling and talking of it and that to no purpose.

John Clare

He could not die when trees were green, for he loved the time too well.

John Clare

Still, I have been no one's enemy but my own. My easy nature, either in drinking or anything else, was always ready to submit to persuasions of profligate companions, who often led me into snares.

John Clare

Author Bio

  • NameJohn Clare
  • DescriptionEnglish poet
  • AliasesNorthamptonshire Peasant Poet
  • BornJuly 13, 1793
  • DiedMay 20, 1864
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionWriter; Poet