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Mistakes
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A man should never be ashamed to own that he is wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
-Alexander Pope
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Morals
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From pride, from pride, our very reas
Poetical Works Alexander Pope. Herbert Davis, ed. (1978; repr. 1990) Oxford University Press.
-Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man (Fr. Epistle I)
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Motivational
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Two purposes in human nature rule. Self-love to urge, and reason to restrain.
-Alexander Pope
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Nature
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All nature is but art unknown to thee.
-Alexander Pope
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Observation
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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.
-Alexander Pope
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Opinion
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An obstinate person does not hold opinions; they hold them.
-Alexander Pope
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Order
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Order is Heaven's first law; and this confessed, some are, and must be, greater than the rest, more rich, more wise; but who infers from hence that such are happier, shocks all common sense. Condition, circumstance, is not the thing; bliss is the same in subject or in king.
-Alexander Pope
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Passion
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The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still.
-Alexander Pope
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Passions are the gales of life.
-Alexander Pope
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Our passions are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for a time, leave us the weaker ever after.
-Alexander Pope
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Perception
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All seems infected that the infected spy,
As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.
-Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, 1711
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Politics
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I find myself... hoping a total end of all the unhappy divisions of mankind by party-spirit, which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.
-Alexander Pope
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Praise
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Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.
-Alexander Pope
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Praise undeserved, is satire in disguise.
-Alexander Pope
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Pride
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At every trifle take offense, that always shows great pride or little sense.
-Alexander Pope
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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.
-Alexander Pope
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Sure of their qualities and demanding praise, more go to ruined fortunes than are raised.
-Alexander Pope
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Profanity, Swearing, Vulgarity
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To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.
-Alexander Pope
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Progress
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Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.
-Alexander Pope
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Reading
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The bookful blockhead ignorantly read,
With loads of learned lumber in his head,
With his own tongue still edifies his ears,
And always list'ning to himself appears.
All books he reads, and all he reads assails.
-Alexander Pope
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Reason
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On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.
-Alexander Pope
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Revenge
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On wrongs swift vengeance waits.
-Alexander Pope
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Satire
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Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike;
Alike reserv'd to blame, or to commend,
A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend.
-Alexander Pope, Prologue to Satires
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Science
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One science only will one genius fit; so vast is art, so narrow human wit.
-Alexander Pope
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Sex
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There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.
-Alexander Pope
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Books by and about Alexander Pope