Arthur Hugh Clough quotes

Arthur Hugh Clough was an English poet and educationalist associated with the Victorian era. His works often explored social, religious, and personal themes in innovative ways. He influenced later generations of poets and remains respected for his experimental style. Here are 39 of his quotes:

A world where nothing is had for nothing.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Truth is a golden thread, seen here and there In small bright specks upon the visible side Of our strange being's party-coloured web.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Say not the struggle nought availeth, The labour and the wounds are vain, The enemy faints not, nor faileth, And as things have been, things remain.

Arthur Hugh Clough

As ships becalmed at eve, that lay With canvas drooping, side by side, Two towers of sail, at dawn of day Are scarce, long leagues apart, descried.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Each for himself is still the rule We learn it when we go to school The devil take the hindmost, O!

Arthur Hugh Clough

My wind is turned to bitter north, That was so soft a south before; My sky, that shone so sunny bright, With foggy gloom is clouded o'er My gay green leaves are yellow-black, Upon the dank autumnal floor; For love, departed once, comes back No more again, no more.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Dance on, dance on, we see, we see Youth goes, alack, and with it glee, A boy the old man ne'er can be; Maternal thirty scarce can find The sweet sixteen long left behind.

Arthur Hugh Clough

There is a great Field-Marshal, my friend, who arrays our battalions; Let us to Providence trust, and abide and work in our stations.

Arthur Hugh Clough

I watched them from the window, thy children at their play, And I thought of all my own dear friends, who were far, oh, far away, And childish loves, and childish cares, and a child's own buoyant gladness Came gushing back again to me with a soft and solemn sadness; And feelings frozen up full long, and thoughts of long ago, Seemed to be thawing at my heart with a warm and sudden flow.

Arthur Hugh Clough

There is no God,” the wicked saith, "And truly it's a blessing, For what He might have done with us It's better only guessing.

Arthur Hugh Clough

In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly, But westward, look, the land is bright.

Arthur Hugh Clough

I sit at my table en grand seigneur, And when I have done, throw a crust to the poor; Not only the pleasure, one's self, of good living, But also the pleasure of now and then giving. So pleasant it is to have money, heigh ho! So pleasant it is to have money.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Come back again, old heart! Ah me! Methinks in those thy coward fears There might, perchance, a courage be, That fails in these the manlier years; Courage to let the courage sink, Itself a coward base to think, Rather than not for heavenly light Wait on to show the truly right.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Thou shalt not covet, but tradition Approves all forms of competition.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Thought may well be ever ranging, And opinion ever changing, Task-work be, though ill begun, Dealt with by experience better; By the law and by the letter Duty done is duty done Do it, Time is on the wing!

Arthur Hugh Clough

O tell me, friends, while yet we part, And heart can yet be heard of heart, O tell me then, for what is it Our early plan of life we quit; From all our old intentions range, And why does all so wholly change? O tell me, friends, while yet we part!

Arthur Hugh Clough

No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency.

Arthur Hugh Clough

When panting sighs the bosom fill, And hands by chance united thrill At once with one delicious pain The pulses and the nerves of twain; When eyes that erst could meet with ease, Do seek, yet, seeking, shyly shun Ecstatic conscious unison,- The sure beginnings, say, be these Prelusive to the strain of love Which angels sing in heaven above?

Arthur Hugh Clough

'Tis possible, young sir, that some excess Mars youthful judgment and old men's no less; Yet we must take our counsel as we may For (flying years this lesson still convey), 'Tis worst unwisdom to be overwise, And not to use, but still correct one's eyes.

Arthur Hugh Clough

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars.

Arthur Hugh Clough

The highest political buzz word is not liberty, equality, fraternity or solidarity; it is service.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Alas! the great world goes its way, And takes its truth from each new day; They do not quit, nor can retain, Far less consider it again.

Arthur Hugh Clough