Quote collection
87 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"This a sacred rule we find Among the nicest of mankind, (Which never might exception brook From Hobbes even down to Bolingbroke,) To doubt of facts, however true, Unless they know the causes too."
"When fiction rises pleasing to the eye, men will believe, because they love the lie; but truth herself, if clouded with a frown, must have some solemn proof to pass her down."
"Those who would make us feel must feel themselves."
"Nor waste their sweetness in the desert air."
"Genius is nothing more than inflamed enthusiasm."
"And reputation bleeds in ev'ry word."
"The villager, born humbly and bred hard, Content his wealth, and poverty his guard, In action simply just, in conscience clear, By guilt untainted, undisturb'd by fear, His means but scanty, and his wants but few, Labor his business, and his pleasure too, Enjoys more comforts in a single hour Than ages give the wretch condemn'd to power."
"Wherever waves can roll, and winds can blow."
"The laws I love; the lawyers I suspect."
"Who, with tame cowardice familiar grown, would hear my thoughts, but fear to speak their own."
"Tis mighty easy o'er a glass of wine On vain refinements vainly to refine, To laugh at poverty in plenty's reign, To boast of apathy when out of pain, And in each sentence, worthy of the schools, Varnish'd with sophistry, to deal out rules Most fit for practice, but for one poor fault That into practice they can ne'er be brought."
"Enough of satire; in less harden'd times Great was her force, and mighty were her rhymes. I've read of men, beyond man's daring brave, Who yet have trembled at the strokes she gave; Whose souls have felt more terrible alarms From her one line, than from a world in arms."
"England, a happy land we know, Where follies naturally grow, Where without culture they arise, And tow'r above the common size."
"All hunt for fame, but most mistake the way."
"Wit, who never once Forgave a brother, shall forgive a dunce."
"Great use they have, when in the hands Of one like me, who understands, Who understands the time and place, The person, manner, and the grace, Which fools neglect; so that we find, If all the requisites are join'd, From whence a perfect joke must spring, A joke's a very serious thing."
"Who all in raptures their own works rehearse, And drawl out measur'd prose, which they call verse."
"Man and wife, Coupled together for the sake of strife."
"Genius is of no country; her pure ray Spreads all abroad, as general as the day."
"It can't be Nature, for it is not sense."