Quotations - Pope

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Quotations --- Alexander Pope

To err is human, to forgive, divine.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone.

A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.

Act well your part; there all the honour lies.

Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.

Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon.

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll;
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Our judgments, like our watches, none
go just alike, yet each believes his own.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire.

I am his Highness' dog at Kew;
Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?”

Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgement, and misguide the mind,
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
Is PRIDE, the never-failing vice of fools.”

An honest man's the noblest work of God.

Men must be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown propos'd as things forgot.

The Wit of Cheats, the Courage of a Whore,
Are what ten thousand envy and adore:
All, all look up, with reverential Awe,
At crimes that 'scape, or triumph o'er the Law:
While Truth, Worth, Wisdom, daily they decry-`
'Nothing is sacred now but Villainy'

Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night:
God said, Let Newton be! and all was light.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see,
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be,
In every work regard the writer's end,
Since none can compass more than they intend;
And if the means be just, the conduct true,
Applause, in spite of trivial faults, is due.

Order is heaven's first law.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

For he lives twice who can at once employ,
The present well, and e’en the past enjoy.

Yes, I am proud; I must be proud to see
Men not afraid of God afraid of me.

Men, some to business take, some to pleasure take; but every woman is at heart a rake.

For forms of Government let fools contest. Whate'er is best administered is best.

For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight, His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns me not to do,
This, teach me more than Hell to shun,
That, more than Heaven pursue.

Go, wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense
Weigh thy Opinion against Providence;
Call Imperfection what thou fancy'st such,
Say, here he gives too little, there too much;
Destroy all creatures for thy sport or gust,
Yet cry, If Man's unhappy, God's unjust;
If Man alone ingross not Heav'n's high care,
Alone made perfect here, immortal there:
Snatch from his hand the balance and the rod,
Re-judge his justice, be the GOD of GOD!

In pride, in reasoning pride, our error lies;
All quit their sphere and rush into the skies.
Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes,
Men would be angels, angels would be gods.
Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell,
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel.