Samuel Butler

Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick
(Though he gave his name to our Old Nick).

Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick
(Though he gave his name to our Old Nick).

Learn'd he was in medic'nal lore,
For by his side a pouch he wore,
Replete with strange read more

Learn'd he was in medic'nal lore,
For by his side a pouch he wore,
Replete with strange hermetic powder
That wounds nine miles point-blank would solder.

For brevity is very good,
Where we are, or are not understood.

For brevity is very good,
Where we are, or are not understood.

The truest characters of ignorance
Are vanity, and pride, and annoyance.

The truest characters of ignorance
Are vanity, and pride, and annoyance.

To be at all is to be religious more or less

To be at all is to be religious more or less