Algernon Charles Swinburne Quotes

Algernon Charles Swinburne — English Poet born on April 05, 1837, died on April 10, 1909

Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He wrote several novels and collections of poetry such as Poems and Ballads, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. A controversial figure at the time, Swinburne was a sado-masochist and alcoholic, and was obsessed with the Middle Ages and lesbianism... (wikipedia)

From too much love of living, From hope and fear set free, We thank with brief thanksgiving Whatever gods may be That no life lives for ever; That dead men rise up never; That even the weariest river Winds somewhere safe to sea.

Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.

To say of shame - what is it? Of virtue - we can miss it; Of sin-we can kiss it, And it's no longer sin.

Body and spirit are twins: God only knows which is which.

Hope thou not much, and fear thou not at all.