Quotes from Alexander Pope

Party-spirit, which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.

Thou wert my guide, philosopher, and friend.

Woman's at best a contradiction still.

Say first, of God above or man below,What can we reason but from what we know?

But where's the man who counsel can bestow,Still pleas'd to teach, and yet not proud to know?

Awake, my St. John! leave all meaner thingsTo low ambition, and the pride of kings.Let us, since life can little more supplyThan just to look about us, and to die,Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man;A mighty maze! but not without a plan.

Some praise at morning what they blame at night,But always think the last opinion right.

As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame,I lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.

The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease.

And binding Nature fast in fate,Left free the human will.

Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow;The rest is all but leather or prunella.

Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell aspiring to be angels men rebel.

If a man's character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.

Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutor'd mindSees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind;His soul proud Science never taught to strayFar as the solar walk or milky way;Yet simple nature to his hope has giv'n,Behind the cloud-topp'd hill, an humbler heav'n.

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

Pleased to the last, he crops the flowery food,And licks the hand just rais'd to shed his blood.

Lo! The poor Indian, whose untutored mind sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind.

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

And mistress of herself, though china fall.

All seems infected that th' infected spy,As all looks yellow to the jaundic'd eye.

An honest man's the noblest work of God.

Not to go back is somewhat to advance,And men must walk, at least, before they dance.

Peel'd, patch'd, and piebald, linsey-woolsey brothers,Grave mummers! sleeveless some, and shirtless others.That once was Britain.

Party-spirit at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.