Alexander Pope

Nature and nature's laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!

At ev'ry word a reputation dies.

Lo, what huge heaps of littleness around!

Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.

The difference is too nice - Where ends the virtue or begins the vice.

Never was it given to mortal man - To lie so boldly as we women can.

Those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.

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

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

Gentle dullness ever loves a joke.

Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.

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

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!

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

Men would be angels, angels would be gods.

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

The proper study of Mankind is Man.

But blind to former as to future fate, what mortal knows his pre-existent state?

The way of the Creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the Great Harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres.

Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit a man; Simplicity, a child.