Alexander Pope (1688–1744) was one of the most vivid poets and extraordinary satirists to have ever written in the English language. In his remarkable career, Pope set the standard for poetry and the moral and philosophical thinking that defined his age.
Born in London to Catholic parents in Protestant England, Pope faced virulent anti-Catholic sentiment and laws. Catholics were forbidden to attend university, hold public office, own property, and even live within 10 miles of London. Pope was denied access to the best schools and a university. His aunt taught him to read, and a priest taught him Greek and Latin. At age eight, Pope was captivated by the works of Homer. Later, in his thirties, he published English translations of Homer’s Illiad (1720) and Odyssey (1726)—these works are now considered Pope’s most significant literary accomplishments.
Pope’s first literary success came just before his 23rd birthday when he published a 744-line poem called An Essay on Criticism (1711) about the history of literature. Not only did this poem make Pope famous for his attack of contemporaneous literary critics, but it also became one of the most quoted verses in the English language.
Pope was the first English poet who financially supported himself through only his writing. He was also the first English writer to have translations of his poems into other languages and become famous all over Europe—all during his lifetime. He is the second most frequently quoted writer in the English language after Shakespeare.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Alexander Pope
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Expectations, Belief, Attitude, Blessings, Expectation
Learning is like mercury, one of the most powerful and excellent things in the world in skillful hands; in unskillful, the most mischievous.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Learning
Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos’d as things forgot.
—Alexander Pope
He serves me most, who serves his country best.
—Alexander Pope
The proper study of mankind is man.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Man
There goes a saying, and ’twas shrewdly said, “Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.”
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Sex
One self-approving hour whole years outweighs of stupid starers, and of loud huzzas.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Self-respect
To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Kindness, Forgiveness
All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Prejudice
Order is Heaven’s first law; and this confessed, some are, and must be, greater than the rest, more rich, more wise; but who infers from hence that such are happier, shocks all common sense. Condition, circumstance, is not the thing; bliss is the same in subject or in king.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Order
Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, in action faithful, and in honor clear, who broke no promise, served no private end, who gain’d no title, and who lost no friend; ennobled by himself, by all approved, praised, wept, and honored.
—Alexander Pope
Curst be the verse how well so’er it flow, that tends to make one worthy man my foe, gives virtue scandal, innocence a fear, or from the soft-eyed virgin steals a tear.
—Alexander Pope
At every trifle, scorn to take offence; that always shows great pride, or little sense.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Pride
All nature is but art, unknown to thee; all chance, direction which thou canst net see; all discord, harmony not understood; all partial evil, universal good.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Nature
Die and endow a college or a cat.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inheritance
It is with narrow-souled people as with narrow necked bottles: the less they have in them, the more noise they make in pouring it out.
—Alexander Pope
To buy books only because they were published by an eminent printer, is much as if a man should buy clothes that did not fit him, only because made by some famous tailor.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Books
Who finds not Providence all good and wise, alike in what it gives and what denies?
—Alexander Pope
Save me from impious discontent at aught thy wisdom has denied or thy goodness has lent.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Discontent
Order in variety we see; though all things differ, all agree.
—Alexander Pope
When I find a great deal of gratitude in a poor man, I take it for granted there would be as much generosity if he were rich.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Gratitude
I would tear out my own heart if it had no better disposition than to love only myself, and laugh at all my neighbors.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Selfishness
Passions are the gales of life.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Passion
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.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Education, Learning
Let me tell you I am better acquainted with you for a long absence, as men are with themselves for a long affliction: absence does but hold off a friend, to make one see him the truer.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Absence
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Exaggeration
I believe no one qualification is so likely to make a good writer, as the power of rejecting his own thoughts.
—Alexander Pope
Get place and wealth, if possible with grace; if not, by any means get wealth and place.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Wealth
Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Pleasure, Happiness
The hidden harmony is better than the obvious.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Art
The best way to prove the clearness of our mind, is by showing its faults; as when a stream discovers the dirt at the bottom, it convinces us of the transparency and purity of the water.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Mind
Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Words, Brevity
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Fate
Get your enemies to read your works in order to mend them; for your friend is so much your second self that he will judge too much like you.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Criticism
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
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Acting, Pride
Not to go back is somewhat to advance. And men must walk, at least, before they dance.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Progress, One Step at a Time
But thousands die without or this or that, die, and endow a college, or a cat: To some, indeed, Heaven grants the happier fate, Tenrich a bastard, or a son they hate.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inheritance
The vanity of human life is like a rivulet, constantly passing away, and yet constantly coming on.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Life
An atheist is but a mad ridiculous derider of piety; but a hypocrite makes a sober jest of God and religion; he finds it easier to be upon his knees than to rise to a good action; like an impudent debtor, who goes every day to talk familiarly to his creditor, without ever paying what he owes.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Hypocrisy
A brave man thinks no one his superior who does him an injury; for he has it then in his power to make himself superior to the other by forgiving it.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Forgiveness
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