Alexander Pope Quotes
That character in conversation which commonly passes for agreeable is made up of civility and falsehood.
From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art.
Learning is like mercury, one of the most powerful and excellent things in the world in skillful hands; in unskillful, the most mischievous.
Whether with Reason, or with Instinct blest, Know, all enjoy that pow'r which suits them best.
No woman ever hates a man for being in love with her, but many a woman hate a man for being a friend to her.
Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.
Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
Some praise at morning what they blame at night, but always think the last opinion right.
Sure of their qualities and demanding praise, more go to ruined fortunes than are raised.
Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honour clear; Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end, Who gain'd no title, and who lost no friend.
New, distant Scenes of endless Science rise: So pleas'd at first, the towring Alps we try.
Then, at the last and only couplet fraught With some unmeaning thing they call a thought, A needless Alexandrine ends the song, That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along.
Dear, damned, distracting town, farewell! Thy fools no more I'll tease: This year in peace, ye critics, dwell, Ye harlots, sleep at ease!
Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; aspiring to be angels men rebel.
Is there a parson much bemused in beer, a maudlin poetess, a rhyming peer, a clerk foredoom'd his father's soul to cross, who pens a stanza when he should engross?
There is but one way I know of conversing safely with all men; that is, not by concealing what we say or do, but by saying or doing nothing that deserves to be concealed.
For what I have publish'd, I can only hope to be pardon'd; but for what I have burned, I deserve to be prais'd.
Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.
We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow. Our wiser sons, no doubt will think us so.
Then sculpture and her sister arts revived; stones leaped to form, and rocks began to live.
Sickness is a sort of early old age; it teaches us a diffidence in our earthly state.
Ask for what end the heavenly bodies shine, Earth for whose use? Pride answers, 'Tis for mine For me kind nature wakes her genial power, Suckles each herb, and spreads out every flower.
Offend her, and she knows not to forgive; Oblige her, and she'll hate you while you live.
Where grows?--where grows it not? If vain our toil, We ought to blame the culture, not the soil.
Great oaks grow from little acorns. He has a green thumb. He has green fingers. He's sowing his wild oats. Here Ceres' gifts in waving prospect stand, And nodding tempt the joyful reaper's hand.
