Alexander Pope

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Condemned whole years in absence to deplore,
And image charms he must behold no more.

Condemned whole years in absence to deplore,
And image charms he must behold no more.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

The difference is as great between
The optics seeing as the objects seen.
All manners take a read more

The difference is as great between
The optics seeing as the objects seen.
All manners take a tincture from our own;
Or come discolor'd through out passions shown;
Or fancy's beam enlarges, multiplies,
Contracts, inverts, and gives ten thousand dyes.

Manners with Fortunes, Humours turn with Climes,
Tenets with Books, and Principles with Times.

Manners with Fortunes, Humours turn with Climes,
Tenets with Books, and Principles with Times.