William Collins Quotes

A collection of quotes by William Collins.

William Collins (1721-1759) was an influential English poet of the 18th century. Born on December 25, 1721, in Chichester, Sussex, Collins displayed a talent for writing from an early age. He received his education at Winchester College and later studied at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Collins's career as a poet was brief but impactful. He is best known for his lyrical and introspective poetry, characterized by vivid imagery and melancholic themes. His melancholy is believed to have been influenced by personal struggles with mental health.

In 1746, Collins published his first collection of poems, "Persian Eclogues," which gained him some recognition among literary circles. However, his most famous work, "Ode to Evening," was published in a collection titled "Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegorical Subjects" in 1747. This poem, often regarded as one of his finest compositions, showcases Collins's ability to evoke emotions and depict scenes as if painting with words.

Despite his early achievements, Collins's mental health began to deteriorate, and he experienced bouts of depression and paranoia. These struggles impacted his writing, and he produced less work as he battled his inner demons.

William Collins passed away on June 12, 1759, at the age of 37 in Chichester. Though his career was short-lived, his poetry greatly influenced the Romantic poets who followed him, such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. Today, Collins is remembered as one of the significant contributors to English literature in the mid-18th century.