Alexander Pope Quotes

A man should never be ashamed to own he has been wrong, which is but saying, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.

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.

Our passions are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for a time, leave us the weaker ever after.

In words as fashions the same rule will hold, Alike fantastic if too new or old Be not the first by whome the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

What will a child learn sooner than a song?

A family is but too often a commonwealth of malignants.

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

The general cry is against ingratitude, but the complaint is misplaced, it should be against vanity; none but direct villains are capable of willful ingratitude; but almost everybody is capable of thinking he hath done more that another deserves, while the other thinks he hath received less than he deserves.

Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon.

It is with our judgments as with our watches; no two go just alike, yet each believes his own.

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

There is a certain majesty in simplicity which is far above all the quaintness of wit.

Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.

Love, free as air at sight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.

In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part.

Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain, our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain; awake but one, and in, what myriads rise!

Be thou the first true merit to befriend, his praise is lost who stays till all commend.

Words are like leaves and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.

One who is too wise an observer of the business of others, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

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

Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne, They rise, they break, and to that sea return.

An honest man is the noblest work of God.

To err is human to forgive, divine.

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of Mankind is Man.

Fools admire, but men of sense approve.

Wit is the lowest form of humor.

Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

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.

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