Quotes from John Donne
What gnashing is not a comfort, what gnawing of the worm is not a tickling, what torment is not a marriage bed to this damnation, to be secluded eternally, eternally, eternally from the sight of God?
— John Donne
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.
— John Donne
It is too little to call man a little world; Except God, man is a diminutive to nothing.
— John Donne
Show me, dear Christ, Thy spouse, so bright and clear.
— John Donne
Send not to know For whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
— John Donne
Now God comes to thee, not as in the dawning of the day, not as in the bud of the spring, but as the sun at noon to illustrate all shadows, as the sheaves in harvest, to fill all penuries, all occasions invite his mercies, and all times are his seasons.
— John Donne
If that be simply perfectest Which can by no way be expresst But negatives, my love is so. To All, which all love, I say no. Negative Love
— John Donne
Men have conceived a twofold use of sleep; it is a refreshing of the body in this life, and a preparing of the soul for the next.
— John Donne
I do nothing upon myself, and yet I am my own executioner.
— John Donne
The afflictions of the wicked exasperate them, enrage them, stone and pave them, obdurate and petrify them, but they do not crucify them. The afflictions of the godly crucify them. And when I am come to that conformity with my Saviour, as to fulfill his sufferings in my flesh, (as I am, when I glorify him in a Christian constancy and cheerfulness in my afflictions) then I am crucified with him, carried up to his cross...
— John Donne
No man is an island, entire of itself every man is a piece of the continent.
— John Donne
The World is a great Volume, and man the Index of that Booke; even in the Body of Man, you may turne to the whole world.
— John Donne