Best Alexander Pope Quotes

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.

Fix'd like a plan on his peculiar spot, to draw nutrition, propagate, and rot.

How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense, and love the offender, yet detest the offence?

We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow. Our wiser sons, no doubt will think us so.

What's fame? a fancy'd life in other's breath. A thing beyond us, even before our death.

I was not born for courts and great affairs, but I pay my debts, believe and say my prayers.

Why has not man a microscopic eye? For the plain reason man is not a fly.

An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded.

Some old men, continually praise the time of their youth. In fact, you would almost think that there were no fools in their days, but unluckily they themselves are left as an example.

Many people are capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.

No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday.

If, presume not to God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being darkly wise, and rudely great.

To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

Know then this truth, enough for man to know virtue alone is happiness below.

Happy the man whose wish and care a few paternal acres bound, content to breathe his native air in his own ground.

For Forms of Government let fools contest; whatever is best administered is best.

And all who told it added something new, and all who heard it, made enlargements too.

Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.

Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed was the ninth beatitude.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot? The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies.

Lo! thy dread empire, Chaos! is restored; dies before thy uncreating word: thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall; and universal darkness buries all.

Be not the first by which a new thing is tried, or the last to lay the old aside.

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 evry Ear it spread, on evry Tongue it grew.

In Words, as Fashions, the same Rule will hold;Alike Fantastick, if too New, or Old;Be not the first by whom the New are tryd,Nor yet the last to lay the Old aside.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, as those move easiest who have learned to dance. 'Tis not enough no harshness gives offence. The sound must seem an echo to the sense.

Why did I write? What sin to me unknown dipped me in ink, my parents , or my own?

Ten censure wrong, for one that writes amiss.

Behold the child, by nature's kindly law, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.

I am his Highness dog at Kew; pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

Satan is wiser now than before, and tempts by making rich instead of poor.

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.

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.

All seems infected that the infected spy, as all seems yellow through the jaundiced eye.

Something there is more needful than expense, And something previous ev'n to taste - 'tis sense

Thanks, Sir, I cried, 'tis very fine, but where d'ye sleep, or where d'ye dine, I find by all you have been telling, That 'tis a house, but not a dwelling

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.

Did some more sober critics come abroad? If wrong, I smil'd; if right, I kiss'd the rod.

Blest paper-credit! last and best supply! That lends corruption lighter wings to fly!

True politeness consists in being easy one's self, and in making every one about one as easy as one can.