Samuel Butler

Your pettifoggers damn their souls,
To share with knaves in cheating fools.

Your pettifoggers damn their souls,
To share with knaves in cheating fools.

Any fool can paint a picture, but it takes a wise man to be able to sell it.

Any fool can paint a picture, but it takes a wise man to be able to sell it.

And though it be a two-foot trout,
'Tis with a single hair pulled out.

And though it be a two-foot trout,
'Tis with a single hair pulled out.

For blocks are better cleft with wedges,
Tan tools of sharp or subtle edges,
And dullest nonsense read more

For blocks are better cleft with wedges,
Tan tools of sharp or subtle edges,
And dullest nonsense has been found
By some to be the most profound.

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

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