As some to church repair
Not for the doctrine, but the music there.
¶ "An Essay on Criticism," Part II, l. 142-3 (1711)
Quotations by ...
Alexander Pope (1688-1744) English poet
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.
¶ "An Essay on Criticism," Part II, l. 15-18 (1711)
Fondly we think we honour Merit then,
When we but praise Our selves in Other Men.
¶ "An Essay on Criticism," Part II, l. 254-55 (1711)
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 try’d,
Nor yet the last to lay the Old aside.
¶ "An Essay on Criticism," l. 333–36 (1711)
All nature is but art unknown to thee,
All chance, direction which thou canst not see;
All discord, harmony not understood;
All partial evil, universal good;
And, spite of pride, in erring reason's spite,
One truth is clear, Whatever is, is right.
¶ "An Essay on Man," Epistle 1, l. 289ff (1733-34)
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of mankind is man.
¶ "An Essay on Man," Epistle II, l. 1 (1733-34)
Created half to rise, and half to fall;
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurl'd:
The glory, jest and riddle of the world!
¶ "An Essay on Man," Epistle II, l. 15ff (1733-344)
Honour and shame from no condition rise;
Act well your part, there all the honour lies.
¶ "An Essay on Man," Epistle IV, l. 193ff (1733-34)
Let not this weak, unknowing hand
Presume Thy bolts to throw,
And deal damnation round the land
On each I judge Thy foe.
¶ "The Universal Prayer" (1738)
Our passions are like convulsion-fits, which, though they make us stronger for the time, leave us the weaker ever after.
¶ "Thoughts on Various Subjects" (1727)
I never knew any man in my life who could not bear another's misfortunes perfectly like a Christian.
¶ "Thoughts on Various Subjects" (1727)
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.
¶ "Thoughts on Various Subjects" (1727)
A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
¶ "Thoughts on Various Subjects" (1727)
Some old men, by continually praising the time of their youth, would almost persuade us that there were no fools in those days; but unluckily they are left themselves for examples.
¶ "Thoughts on Various subjects" (1727)
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
¶ (Attributed)
Say first, of God above or man below,
What can we reason but from what we know?
¶ An Essay on Man, "Epistle I," l. 17-18 (1734)
For forms of government let fools contest;
Whate'er is best administered is best:
For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight;
His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.
In faith and hope the world will disagree,
But all mankind's concern is charity.
¶ An Essay on Man, "Epistle III," l. 303 (1733-1734)
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WIST is my collection of quotations I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), well-phrased, and/or to which I just say I "Wish I'd Said That." But just because I quote it here doesn't mean I actually agree with it. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to
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