Quote by Thomas Gray | TrueQuotes

"Gray is our poetical classic of that literature and age; the position of Gray is singular, and demands a word of notice here. He has not the volume or the power of poets who, coming in times more favourable, have attained to an independent criticism of life. But he lived with the great poets, he lived, above all, with the Greeks, through perpetually studying and enjoying them; and he caught their poetic point of view for regarding life, caught their poetic manner. The point of view and the manner are not self-sprung in him, he caught them of others; and he had not the free and abundant use of them. But whereas Addison and Pope never had the use of them, Gray had the use of them at times. He is the scantiest and frailest of classics in our poetry, but he is a classic."

— Thomas Gray

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Poets from England University of Cambridge alumni University of Cambridge faculty People from London

Original Language: English

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Matthew Arnold, 'General Preface', to The English Poets: Selections with Critical Introductions by Various Writers and a General Introduction by Matthew Arnold. Vol. I Chaucer to Donne, ed. Thomas Humphry Ward (1880), p. xl

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Poets from England University of Cambridge alumni University of Cambridge faculty People from London

Thomas Gray

Thomas Gray (December 26, 1716 – July 30, 1771) was an English poet, classical scholar, and professor of history at Cambridge University.

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