Alexander Pope

Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering teach the rest to sneer;
Willing read more

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.

Solid pudding against empty praise.

Solid pudding against empty praise.

How index-learning turns no student pale,
Yet holds the eel of science by the tale.

How index-learning turns no student pale,
Yet holds the eel of science by the tale.

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

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

Not half so swift the trembling doves can fly,
When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid sky;
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Not half so swift the trembling doves can fly,
When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid sky;
Not half so swiftly the fierce eagle moves,
When thro' the clouds he drives the trembling doves.