Isaac Watts: First

Isaac Watts was English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. Explore interesting quotes on first.

Isaac Watts: 94 quotes0 likes

“Why should our garments, made to hide
Our parents' shame, provoke our pride?
The art of dress did ne'er begin,
Till Eve our mother learn'd to sin.

When first she put the covering on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.”

Isaac Watts

Song 22: "Against Pride in Clothes".
1710s, Divine Songs Attempted in the Easy Language of Children (1715)

“Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your own profession. Do not indulge yourselves to judge of things by the first glimpse, or a short and superficial view of them; for this will fill the mind with errors and prejudices, and give it a wrong turn and ill habit of thinking, and make much work for retraction.”

Isaac Watts

(1727), Ch. I, General Rules for the Improvement of Knowlege, Rule VII -
1720s, The Improvement of the Mind (1727)

“And he that does one fault at first
And lies to hide it, makes it two.”

Isaac Watts

Song 15. Compare: "Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most, grows two thereby", George Herbert, The Church Porch.
1710s, Divine Songs Attempted in the Easy Language of Children (1715)

“In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be past,
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.”

Isaac Watts

Song 20: "Against Idleness and Mischief".
1710s, Divine Songs Attempted in the Easy Language of Children (1715)