Color portrait of English poet John Donne.

John Donne

(1572 - 1631)

John Donne was the preeminent poet of the Metaphysical school, described by a contemporary as, “very neat; a great visitor of ladies, a great frequenter of plays, a great writer of conceited verses.” Ordained as an Anglican priest in 1615, he was best known during his life for his sermons, becoming a favorite preacher of King James I and, later, Charles I, while almost all of his poetry was published posthumously.

All Writing

Friends are ourselves.

—John Donne, 1603

Humiliation is the beginning of sanctification.

—John Donne, c. 1629

As peace is of all goodness, so war is an emblem, a hieroglyphic, of all misery.

—John Donne, 1622

If I lose at play, I blaspheme, and if my fellow loses, he blasphemes. So that God is always sure to be the loser.

—John Donne, 1623

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