Die and endow a college or a cat.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inheritance
On life’s vast ocean diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Reason
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
Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides sense from thought.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Memory
To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Forgiveness, Kindness
Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor ever shall be.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Perfection
There goes a saying, and ’twas shrewdly said, “Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.”
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Sex
You beat your Pate, and fancy Wit will come: Knock as you please, there’s no body at home.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Inspirational, Inspiration
Teach me to feel another’s woe,
To hide the fault I see,
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.
—Alexander Pope
From pride, from pride, our very reas’ning springs.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Morals
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: Pride, Opportunities, Reality
Music resembles poetry; in each are numerous graces which no methods teach, and which a master hand alone can reach.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Music
Looks through nature up to nature’s God.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Nature
Good God! how often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Death, Dying
Do good by stealth and blush to find fame.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Kindness, Action
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
Oh, blindness to the future! kindly given, that each may fill the circle marked by heaven.
—Alexander Pope
There is a majesty in simplicity which is far above the quaintness of wit.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Simplicity
Love, free as air at sight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.
—Alexander Pope
Jarring interests of themselves create the according music of a well-mixed state.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Politics
One science only will one genius fit; so vast is art, so narrow human wit.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Science
The most positive men are the most credulous, since they most believe themselves, and advise most with their falsest flatterer and worst enemy,—their own self-love.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Belief
Envy will merit as its shade pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Envy
Be thou the first true merit to befriend, his praise is lost who stays till all commend.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Praise
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
How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight!
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Guilt
Most authors steal their works, or buy.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Authors & Writing, Writers
Raise reason over instinct as you can; in this ’tis God directs; in that ’tis man.
—Alexander Pope
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
Two purposes in human nature rule. Self-love to urge, and reason to restrain.
—Alexander Pope
Topics: Motivation, Motivational
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- John Dryden English Poet
- Francis Thompson English Poet
- Coventry Patmore English Writer
- John Milton English Poet
- John Webster English Dramatist
- Geoffrey Chaucer English Poet
- Abraham Cowley English Poet
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning English Poet
- Christopher Marlowe English Playwright
- G. K. Chesterton English Journalist
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