Alexander Pope Quotes

You purchase pain with all that joy can give and die of nothing but a rage to live.

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

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

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

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.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, as those who move easiest have learned to dance.

Teach me to feel another's woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me.

If I am right, Thy grace impartStill in the right to stay;If I am wrong, O, teach my heartTo find that better way!

Strength of mind is exercise, not rest.

To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

The way of the Creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the Great Harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres.

What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease.

All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the soul.

Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed was the ninth beatitude.

An honest man's the noblest work of God.

For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.

The ruling passion, be it what it will. The ruling passion conquers reason still.

Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain, our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain; awake but one, and in, what myriads rise!

Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.

Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.

In pride, in reas'ning pride, our error lies; All quit their sphere and rush into the skies. Pride still is aiming at the bless'd abodes, Men would be angels, angels would be gods.

Men must be taught as if you taught them not, and things unknown proposed as things forgot.

What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things,...

The learned is happy, nature to explore; The fool is happy, that he knows no more.

Know then this truth, enough for man to know virtue alone is happiness below.

Never elated when someone's oppressed, never dejected when another one's blessed.

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

Then marble, soften'd into life, grew warm.

Fools admire, but men of sense approve.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot? The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read With loads of learned lumber in his head.

Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.

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.

All other goods by Fortune's hands are given; A wife is the peculiar gift of heaven.

Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.

But Satan now is wiser than of yore, and tempts by making rich, not making poor.

We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow. Our wiser sons, no doubt will think us so.

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.

At every trifle take offense, that always shows great pride or little sense.

Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.

Our proper bliss depends on what we blame.

Get place and wealth, if possible with grace; if not, by any means get wealth and place.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be.

Wit is the lowest form of humor.

Love, free as air, at sight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.

To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.

Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.

Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.

An obstinate person does not hold opinions; they hold them.

False happiness is like false money; it passes for a time as well as the true, and serves some ordinary occasions; but when it is brought to the touch, we find the lightness and alloy, and feel the loss.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown, Thus unlamented let me die, Steal from the world, and not a stone Tell where I lie.

From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art.

Party-spirit at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.

Men would be angels, angels would be gods.

Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

All seems infected that th' infected spy, As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.

Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow; The rest is all but leather and prunello.

There is a certain majesty in simplicity which is far above all the quaintness of wit.

Order is Heaven's first law; and this confess, Some are and must be greater than the rest.

How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight!

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; for an excuse is a lie guarded.

Where'er you walk cool gales shall fan the glade, Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade. Where'er you tread the blushing flowers shall rise, And all things flourish where you turn your eyes.

How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense, and love the offender, yet detest the offence?

And all who told it added something new, and all who heard it, made enlargements too.

Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides sense from thought.

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind's concern is charity.

Like Cato, give his little senate laws, and sit attentive to his own applause.