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
As to the general design of providence, the two extremes of vice may serve to keep up the balance of things. When we speak against one capital vice, we ought to speak against its opposite; the middle betwixt both is the point for virtue.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vice
What is it to be wise? – ‘Tis but to know how little can be known – to see all others’ faults and feel our own.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Wisdom
To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Kindness, Forgiveness
Scarce any Tale was sooner heard than told;
And all who told it, added something new,
And all who heard it, made Enlargements too,
In every Ear it spread, on every Tongue it grew.
—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
Truth shines the brighter clad in verse.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Poetry
See dying vegetables life sustain,
See life dissolving vegetate again;
All forms that perish other forms supply;
By turns we catch the vital breath and die.
—Alexander Pope
Music resembles poetry; in each are numerous graces which no methods teach, and which a master hand alone can reach.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Music
Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Praise
Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Brevity, Words
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Fate
Did some more sober critics come abroad? If wrong, I smil’d; if right, I kiss’d the rod.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Critics, Criticism
Ten censure wrong, for one that writes amiss.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Authors & Writing, Writers, Criticism
In lazy apathy let stoics boast
Their virtue fix’d: ‘t is fix’d as in a frost;
Contracted all, retiring to the breast;
But strength of mind is exercise, not rest.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Apathy
An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Lies, Excuses
Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Pleasure, Happiness
The villain’s censure is extorted praise.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Praise
His praise is lost who waits till all commend.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Praise
We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow. Our wiser sons, no doubt will think us so.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Family, Father, Fathers
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
I find myself… hoping a total end of all the unhappy divisions of mankind by party-spirit, which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Politics, Politicians
Vices and virtues are of a strange nature, for the more we have, the fewer we think we have
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vice
Wholesome solitude, the nurse of sense!
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Solitude
There should be as little merit in loving a woman for her beauty, as a man for his prosperity, both being equally subject to change.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Beauty
On wrongs swift vengeance waits.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vengeance, Revenge
Whatever makes man a slave takes half his worth away.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Slavery
Health consists with temperance alone.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Health
Every man has just as much vanity as he wants understanding.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vanity
An obstinate person does not hold opinions; they hold them.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Opinions, Opinion
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
Raise reason over instinct as you can; in this ’tis God directs; in that ’tis man.
—Alexander Pope
Looks through nature up to nature’s God.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Nature
When we are young, we are slavishly employed in procuring something whereby we may live comfortably when we grow old; and when we are old, we I perceive it is too late to live as we proposed.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Aging, Age
Behold the child, by nature’s kindly law, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Children
Order is heaven’s first law.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Order
Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Dogs, Loyalty
You beat your Pate, and fancy Wit will come: Knock as you please, there’s no body at home.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inspirational, Inspiration
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
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.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Creativity, Harmony
How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense, and love the offender, yet detest the offence?
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Forgiveness
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