George Crabbe
Overview
 
George Crabbe was an English poet and naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...

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He was born in Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...

, Suffolk, the son of a tax collector, and developed his love of poetry as a child. In 1768, he was apprenticed to a local doctor, who taught him little, and in 1771 he changed masters and moved to Woodbridge. There he met his future wife, Sarah Elmy, who accepted his proposal and had the faith and patience not only to wait for Crabbe but to encourage his verse writing.
Quotations

Where Plenty smiles - alas! she smiles for few,And those who taste not, yet behold her store,Are as the slaves that dig the golden ore,The wealth around them makes them doubly poor.

The Village, Book 1, line 136 (1783)

The murmuring poor, who will not fast in peace.

The Newspaper (1785), line 158.

A master passion is the love of news.

The Newspaper (1785), line 279.

Our farmers round, well pleased with constant gain,Like other farmers, flourish and complain.

The Parish Register (1807), Part 1: "Baptisms", line 273.

Oh, rather give me commentators plain,Who with no deep researches vex the brain;Who from the dark and doubtful love to run,And hold their glimmering tapers to the sun.

The Parish Register (1807), Part i, "Introduction". Compare "How commentators each dark passage shun, / And hold their farthing candle to the sun", Edward Young, Love of Fame, Satire vii, Line 97.

Her air, her manners, all who saw admir'd;Courteous though coy, and gentle though retir'd;The joy of youth and health her eyes display'd,And ease of heart her every look convey'd.

The Parish Register (1807), Part ii, "Marriages".

Habit with him was all the test of truth,It must be right: I’ve done it from my youth.

The Borough (1810), Letter iii, "The Vicar", line 138.

In this fool's paradise he drank delight.

The Borough (1810), Letter xii, "Players".

Books cannot always please, however good;Minds are not ever craving for their food.

The Borough (1810), Letter xxiv, "Schools".

In idle wishes fools supinely stay;Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.

The Birth of Flattery, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

 
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