51 Most Famous John Donne Quotes

Last updated on February 4, 2023

John Donne (born 22 January 1572, London, United Kingdom – died 31 March 1631, London, United Kingdom) was an English poet, preacher, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a cleric in the Church of England. He is regarded as the leading metaphysical poet in the history of English literature. John Donne's works are notable for their metaphorical and sensual style and include sonnets, love poems, religious poems, elegies, epigrams, Latin translations, songs, satires and sermons.

Top 10 Most Famous John Donne Quotes

Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail. ― John Donne — Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail.

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. ― John Donne — Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face. ― John Donne — No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.

Death comes equally to us all, and makes us all equal when it comes. ― John Donne — Death comes equally to us all, and makes us all equal when it comes.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent. ― John Donne — No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.

I am two fools, I know, For loving, and for saying so. ― John Donne — I am two fools, I know, For loving, and for saying so.

Sleep with clean hands, either kept clean all day by integrity or washed clean at night by repentance. ― John Donne — Sleep with clean hands, either kept clean all day by integrity or washed clean at night by repentance.

More than kisses, letters mingle souls. ― John Donne — More than kisses, letters mingle souls.

To know and feel all this and not have the words to express it makes a human a grave of his own thoughts. ― John Donne — To know and feel all this and not have the words to express it makes a human a grave of his own thoughts.

Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity. ― John Donne — Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity.

17 John Donne Quotes About Love

For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love. ― John Donne — For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love.

Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime, nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time. ― John Donne — Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime, nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.

Then love is sin, and let me sinful be. ― John Donne — Then love is sin, and let me sinful be.

I wonder, by my troth, what thou, and I did, till we lov’d. ― John Donne — I wonder, by my troth, what thou, and I did, till we lov’d.

Come live with me, and be my love, And we will some new pleasures prove Of golden sands, and crystal brooks, With silken lines, and silver hooks. ― John Donne — Come live with me, and be my love, And we will some new pleasures prove Of golden sands, and crystal brooks, With silken lines, and silver hooks.

I do not love a man, except I hate his vices, because those vices are the enemies, and the destruction of that friend whom I love. ― John Donne — I do not love a man, except I hate his vices, because those vices are the enemies, and the destruction of that friend whom I love.

Love's mysteries in souls do grow, But yet the body is his book. ― John Donne — Love's mysteries in souls do grow, But yet the body is his book.

For love all love of other sights controls and makes one little room an everywhere. ― John Donne — For love all love of other sights controls and makes one little room an everywhere.

True and false fears let us refrain. Let us love nobly, and live, and add again. ― John Donne — True and false fears let us refrain. Let us love nobly, and live, and add again.

Filled with her love, may I be rather grown mad with much heart, then idiot with none. ― John Donne — Filled with her love, may I be rather grown mad with much heart, then idiot with none.

Whatever dies was not mixed equally, If our two loves be one Or thou and I love so alike That none can slacken, none can die. ― John Donne — Whatever dies was not mixed equally, If our two loves be one Or thou and I love so alike That none can slacken, none can die.

Busy old fool, unruly Sun, why dost thou thus through windows and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions lovers seasons run? ― John Donne — Busy old fool, unruly Sun, why dost thou thus through windows and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?

And who understands? Not me, because if I did I would forgive it all. ― John Donne — And who understands? Not me, because if I did I would forgive it all.

Love is a growing, or full, constant light, and his first minute, after noon, is night. ― John Donne — Love is a growing, or full, constant light, and his first minute, after noon, is night.

Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies. ― John Donne — Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.

The Good-Morrow

I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? Were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, 'twas but a dreame of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules,
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world; each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares,
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.
John Donne

Yet nothing can to nothing fall,
Nor any place be empty quite;
Therefore I think my breast hath all
Those pieces still, though they be not unite;
And now, as broken glasses show
A hundred lesser faces, so
My rags of heart can like, wish, and adore,
But after one such love, can love no more.
John Donne

5 John Donne Quotes on Death

Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me. ― John Donne — Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

Death Be Not Proud

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy picture[s] be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou'rt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke ; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
John Donne

Death is an ascension to a better library. ― John Donne — Death is an ascension to a better library.

When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language. ― John Donne — When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language.

I shall not live 'till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die. ― John Donne — I shall not live 'till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die.

19 Inspirational John Donne Quotes

Affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by it and made fit for God. ― John Donne — Affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by it and made fit for God.

Pleasure is none, if not diversified. ― John Donne — Pleasure is none, if not diversified.

In heaven it is always autumn. ― John Donne — In heaven it is always autumn.

Licence my roving hands, and let them go,. Before, behind, between, above, below. ― John Donne — Licence my roving hands, and let them go,. Before, behind, between, above, below.

Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing. ― John Donne — Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.

I am a little world made cunningly. ― John Donne — I am a little world made cunningly.

And new Philosophy calls all in doubt, the element of fire is quite put out; the Sun is lost, and the earth, and no mans wit can well direct him where to look for it. ― John Donne — And new Philosophy calls all in doubt, the element of fire is quite put out; the Sun is lost, and the earth, and no mans wit can well direct him where to look for it.

Humiliation is the beginning of sanctification. ― John Donne — Humiliation is the beginning of sanctification.

And to 'scape stormy days, I choose an everlasting night. ― John Donne — And to 'scape stormy days, I choose an everlasting night.

Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven. ― John Donne — Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven.

As he that fears God fears nothing else, so he that sees God sees everything else. ― John Donne — As he that fears God fears nothing else, so he that sees God sees everything else.

Wicked is not much worse than indiscreet. ― John Donne — Wicked is not much worse than indiscreet.

The sun must not set upon anger, much less will I let the sun set upon the anger of God towards me. ― John Donne — The sun must not set upon anger, much less will I let the sun set upon the anger of God towards me.

To be no part of any body, is to be nothing. ― John Donne — To be no part of any body, is to be nothing.

How imperfect is all our knowledge! ― John Donne — How imperfect is all our knowledge!

Other men's crosses are not my crosses. ― John Donne — Other men's crosses are not my crosses.

That soul that can reflect upon itself, consider itself, is more than so. ― John Donne — That soul that can reflect upon itself, consider itself, is more than so.

I did best when I had least truth for my subjects. ― John Donne — I did best when I had least truth for my subjects.

The day breaks not: it is my heart. ― John Donne — The day breaks not: it is my heart.