"An atheist is a man who believes himself an accident."
About Francis Thompson
Francis Thompson — Life and Legacy
Francis Thompson was a significant Victorian poet whose work delves into the complexities of love and the human struggle for spiritual connection. His most famous poem, 'The Hound of Heaven', vividly portrays the relentless pursuit of divine love, illustrating the inner conflict between earthly desires and spiritual aspirations. Through lines that evoke both beauty and despair, Thompson captures the essence of human longing, stating that the divine presence is ever-pursuing, even amidst human flight. Thompson's worldview reflects a deep psychological insight into the human condition, often exploring themes of addiction, isolation, and redemption. His poignant lines reveal a profound understanding of love as both a source of joy and a catalyst for suffering. For instance, his exploration of love is not merely romantic but encompasses a broader spiritual yearning, challenging readers to confront their own struggles with faith and existence. Today, Thompson's quotes resonate with those grappling with their own inner conflicts, as they articulate the timeless tension between the search for meaning and the distractions of the world. His ability to articulate the complexities of love and struggle continues to inspire readers, making his work relevant in discussions of spirituality and human experience.
Quote collection
Francis Thompson quotes (page 1 of 2)
22 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"All things by immortal power. Near of far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star."
"Summer set lip to earth's bosom bare, And left the flushed print in a poppy there: Like a yawn of fire from the grass it came, And the fanning wind puffed it to flapping flame. With burnt mouth red like a lion's it drank The blood of the sun as he slaughtered sank, And dipped its cup in the purpurate shine When the eastern conduits ran with wine."
"Agnosticism is the everlasting perhaps."
"Look for me in the nurseries of Heaven."
"The devil doesn't know how to sing, only how to howl."
"Nothing begins, and nothing ends, That is not paid with moan; For we are born in others pain And perish in our own."
"The desolation and terror of, for the first time, realizing that the mother can lose you, or you her, and your own abysmal loneliness and helplessness without her."
"Thou cannot stir a flower Without troubling a star."
"A dog, I will maintain, is a very tolerable judge of beauty, as appears from the fact that any liberally educated dog does, in a general way, prefer a woman to a man."
"Oh invisible, we view thee, O world intangible, we touch thee, o world unknowable, we know thee."
"So for thy spirit did devise Its Maker seemly garniture, Of its own essence parcel pure.-- From grave simplicities a dress, And reticent demureness, And love encinctured with reserve; Which the woven vesture would subserve. For outward robes in their ostents Should show the soul's habiliments. Therefore I say,--Thou'rt fair even so, But better Fair I use to know."
"There is no expeditious road To pack and label men for God, And save them by the barrel-load. Some may perchance, with strange surprise, Have blundered into Paradise."
"Little Jesus, was Thou shy Once, and just so small as I? And what did it feel like to be Out of Heaven, and just like me?"
"The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose's scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose."
"Spring is come home with her world-wandering feet, And all things are made young with your desires."
"But lilies, stolen from grassy mold, No more curled state unfold, Translated to a vase of gold; In burning throne though they keep still Serenities unthawed and chill."
"Baby smiled, mother wailed, Earthward while the sweetling sailed; Mother smiled, baby wailed, When to earth came Viola."
"Babies breathe a lot more rapidly than adults do, and what's more, they're also growing quickly and so they're absorbing lots more into the body and they're more fragile in terms of development and so on."
"In all change, well looked into, the germinal good out-veils the apparent ill."