Alexander Pope Quotes
Beauty that shocks you, parts that none will trust, Wit that can creep, and pride that licks the dust.
There are some solitary wretches who seem to have left the rest of mankind, only, as Eve left Adam, to meet the devil in private.
Atheists put on false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in the dark, will sing for fear.
Old men, for the most part, are like old chronicles that give you dull but true accounts of times past, and are worth knowing only on that score.
Where's the man who counsel can bestow, still pleased to teach, and yet not proud to know.
A wise physician, skill'd our wounds to heal, is more than armies to the public weal.
For he lives twice who can at once employ, The present well, and e'en the past enjoy.
The meeting points the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, forever, and forever! Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies.
From Nature's chain whatever link you strike, Tenth or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike.
Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave: Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise,- His pride in reasoning, not in acting lies.
Oh! be thou blest with all that Heaven can send, Long health, long youth, long pleasure-and a friend.
Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame, Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame, Averse alike to flatter or offend, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.
Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plow, the worm to weave.
Why did I write? whose sin to me unknown Dipt me in ink, my parents', or my own? As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame, I lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.
Content if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view, The learn'd reflect on what before they knew.
How loved, how honored once, avails thee not, To whom related, or by whom begot A heap of dust alone remains of thee 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be!
She who ne'er answers till a husband cools, Or, if she rules him, never shows she rules; Charms by accepting, by submitting, sways, Yet has her humor most, when she obeys.
Nay, fly to altars; there they'll talk you dead; For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.
Heav'n first taught letters for some wretch's aid, Some banish'd lover, or some captive maid.
The heart resolves this matter in a trice, "Men only feel the smart, but not the vice.
Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow; The rest is all but leather and prunello.
No silver saints, by dying misers giv'n, Here brib'd the rage of ill-requited heav'n; But such plain roofs as Piety could raise, And only vocal with the Maker's praise.
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight; Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Who sees pale Mammom pine amidst his store, Sees but a backward steward for the poor.
While man exclaims, "See all things for my use!" "See man for mine!" replies a pamper'd goose.
On life's vast ocean diversely we sail, Reason the card, but passion is the gale; Nor God alone in the still calm we find, He mounts the storm, and walks upon the wind.
Slave to no sect, who takes no private road, But looks through Nature up to Nature's God.