Explore Quotes by John Donne

Great sins are great possessions; but levities and vanities possess us too; and men had rather part with Christ than with any possession.

Doth not a man die even in his birth? The breaking of prison is death, and what is our birth, but a breaking of prison?

But think that we Are but turned aside to sleep.

All occasions invite His mercies, and all times are His seasons.

As states subsist in part by keeping their weaknesses from being known, so is it the quiet of families to have their chancery and their parliament within doors, and to compose and determine all emergent differences there.

And new Philosophy calls all in doubt, the element of fire is quite put out; the Sun is lost, and the earth, and no mans wit can well direct him where to look for it.

The day breaks not, it is my heart.

I observe the physician with the same diligence as the disease.

Busy old fool, unruly Sun, why dost thou thus through windows and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?

Art is the most passionate orgy within man's grasp.

Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.

Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime, nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.

When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language.

He must pull out his own eyes, and see no creature, before he can say, he sees no God; He must be no man, and quench his reasonable soul, before he can say to himself, there is no God.

Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love.

Since you would save none of me, I bury some of you.

God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice.

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.

Humiliation is the beginning of sanctification.

More than kisses, letters mingle souls.