Alexander Pope Quotes
Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides sense from thought.
What then remains, but well our power to use, And keep good-humor still whate'er we lose? And trust me, dear, good-humor can prevail, When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail.
Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed was the ninth beatitude.
Nature and nature's laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!
Search then the ruling passion; there alone, The wild are constant, and the cunning known; The fool consistent, and the false sincere; Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here.
Lo! the poor Indian! whose untutor'd mind Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind; His soul proud Science never taught to stray Far as the solar walk or milky way.
Genius creates, and taste preserves. Taste is the good sense of genius; without taste, genius is only sublime folly.
In men, we various ruling passions find; In women, two almost divide the kind Those, only fixed, they first or last obey, The love of pleasure, and the love of sway.
What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Soft o'er the shrouds aerial whispers breathe, That seemed but zephyrs to the train beneath.
The lights and shades, whose well-accorded strife gives all the strength and color of our life.
A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.
Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.
Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.
A work of art that contains theories is like an object on which the price tag has been left.
If, presume not to God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being darkly wise, and rudely great.
There never was any party, faction, sect, or cabal whatsoever, in which the most ignorant were not the most violent; for a bee is not a busier animal than a blockhead.
What is it to be wise? 'Tis but to know how little can be known, To see all others' faults, and feel our own.
Lo! The poor Indian, whose untutored mind sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind.
The Physician, by the study and inspection of urine and ordure, approves himself in the science; and in like sort should our author accustom and exercise his imagination upon the dregs of nature.
Expression is the dress of thought, and still Appears more decent as more suitable; A vile conceit in pompous words express'd, Is like a clown in regal purple dress'd.
Music resembles poetry, in each Are nameless graces which no methods teach, And which a master hand alone can reach.
See plastic Nature working to this end, The single atoms each to other tend, Attract, attracted to, the next in place Form'd and impell'd its neighbor to embrace.
Love, free as air, at sight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.
