English poet and Anglican hymnwriter.
One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him “the best modern poet”, whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem “Yardley-Oak”.
William Cowper. Photo: wikipedia.org
Knowledge is proud that he has learn’d so much;
wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Photo by Erik Karits
He has no hope who never had a fear.
Photo by Bea Arnold
Those who are guided by truth and wisdom can extract honey from tares.
Photo by Pixabay
But it is a sort of April-weather life that we lead in this world. A little sunshine is generally the prelude to a storm.
Photo: Tom Barrett. Meaning 🇳🇱 📖: The saying uses the Dutch weather concept “April whims” (or April weather) as a metaphor for life. April weather: In April, the weather can change very quickly; one moment the sun is shining, the next it is hailing or storming. The Metaphor: The saying implies that periods of happiness, prosperity, or peace (“sunshine”) in life are often temporary. They are often followed by, or are even the harbinger of, adversity, conflict, or difficult times (“a storm”). The Message: It is a down-to-earth, somewhat melancholic reminder not to become complacent during good times, since change is inevitable. 🖋️ Author and Origin: The original author is the English poet and hymn writer William Cowper (1731–1800).Original Context: The quoted sentence is a Dutch translation of a passage from his well-known correspondence. Cowper was a prolific letter writer and often shared philosophical musings with his friends. 🇬🇧 The Original Quote: “But it is a sort of April-weather life that we lead in this world. A little sunshine is generally the prelude to a storm.” (William Cowper, in a letter to John Newton, circa 1781-1784).
Door Pieter
Mensenmens, zoon, echtgenoot, vader, opa.
Spiritueel, echter niet religieus.
Ik hou van golf, wandelen, lezen en de natuur in veel opzichten.
Onderzoeker, nieuwsgierig, geen fan van de mainstream media (MSM).
