The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

That slaves, howe’er contented, never know.
‘Table Talk’ (1782) l. 260
Stamps God’s own name upon a lie just made,
To turn a penny in the way of trade.
‘Table Talk’ (1782) l. 420 (Perjury)
But he (his musical finesse was such,
So nice his ear, so delicate his touch)
Made poetry a mere mechanic art,
And ev’ry warbler has his tune by heart.
‘Table Talk’ (1782) l. 654 (on Pope)
Thus first necessity invented stools,
Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs,
And luxury the accomplished sofa last.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 1 ‘The Sofa’ l. 86
The nurse sleeps sweetly, hired to watch the sick,
Whom, snoring, she disturbs.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 1 ‘The Sofa’ l. 89
God made the country, and man made the town.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 1 ‘The Sofa’ l. 749.
Slaves cannot breathe in England, if their lungs
Receive our air, that moment they are free;
They touch our country, and their shackles fall.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 40.
England, with all thy faults, I love thee still—
My country!
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 206.
There is a pleasure in poetic pains
Which only poets know.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 285
Variety’s the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 606
I was a stricken deer, that left the herd
Long since.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 3 ‘The Garden’ l. 108.
Charge
His mind with meanings that he never had.
‘The Task’ (1785) bk. 3 ‘The Garden’ l. 148
Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants.