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
A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
—Alexander Pope
At every word a reputation dies.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Gossip, Words
Who dares think one thing, and another tell, my soul detests him as the gates of hell.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Deceit
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
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of Mankind is Man.
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being darkly wise and rudely great.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Humanity, Humankind, Mankind, Self-Knowledge, Man
Two purposes in human nature rule. Self-love to urge, and reason to restrain.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Motivation, Motivational
No writing is good that does not tend to better mankind in some way or other.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Writing
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.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Observation, Curiosity
Fix’d like a plan on his peculiar spot, to draw nutrition, propagate, and rot.
—Alexander Pope
Ten censure wrong, for one that writes amiss.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Authors & Writing, Criticism, Writers
There never was any party, faction, sect, or cabal whatsoever, in which the most ignorant were not the most violent; for a bee is not a busier animal than a blockhead. However, such instruments are, perhaps, necessary; for it may be with states as with clocks, which must have some dead weight hanging at them, to help and regulate the motion of the finer and more useful parts.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Ignorance
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
To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vulgarity, Swearing, Profanity
But when to mischief mortals bend their will, how soon they find fit instruments of ill!
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Vice
Oh, blindness to the future! kindly given, that each may fill the circle marked by heaven.
—Alexander Pope
Good sense, which only is the gift of Heaven, and though no science, fairly worth the seven.
—Alexander Pope
Die and endow a college or a cat.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inheritance
In pride, unreasoning 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.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Opportunities, Pride, Reality
Our rural ancestors, with little blest,
Patient of labour when the end was rest,
Indulged the day that housed their annual grain,
With feasts, and off’rings, and a thankful strain.
—Alexander Pope
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Belief, Expectation, Blessings, Expectations, Attitude
There is nothing meritorious but virtue and friendship.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Friendship
Honest instinct comes a volunteer, sure never to overshoot, but just to hit, while still too wide, or short of human wit.
—Alexander Pope
Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides sense from thought.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Memory
Sickness is a sort of early old age; it teaches us a diffidence in our earthly state.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Sickness
Wholesome solitude, the nurse of sense!
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Solitude
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
Fine sense, and exalted sense, are not half as useful as common sense.—There are forty men of wit to one man of sense.—He that will carry nothing about him but gold, will be every day at a loss for readier change.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Common Sense
You beat your Pate, and fancy Wit will come: Knock as you please, there’s no body at home.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inspiration, Inspirational
Of all the causes which conspire to blind man’s erring judgment, and mislead the mind, what the weak head with strongest bias rules, is pride—that never failing vice of fools.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Pride
To be angry, is to revenge the fault of others upon ourselves.
—Alexander Pope
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