For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

Which I wish to remark--
And my language is plain,--
That for ways that are dark
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Which I wish to remark--
And my language is plain,--
That for ways that are dark
And for tricks that are vain,
The heathen Chinee is peculiar.

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

Deceit is in haste, but honesty can wait a fair leisure

Deceit is in haste, but honesty can wait a fair leisure

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the read more

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.

There is a cunning which we in England call the turning of the
cat in the pan.

There is a cunning which we in England call the turning of the
cat in the pan.

Think'st thou there are no serpents in the world
But those who slide along the grassy sod,
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Think'st thou there are no serpents in the world
But those who slide along the grassy sod,
And sting the luckless foot that presses them?
There are who in the path of social life
Do bask their spotted skins in Fortune's sun,
And sting the soul.

If the world will be gulled, let it be gulled.

If the world will be gulled, let it be gulled.

The silly when deceived exclaim loudly; the fool complains; the
honest man walks away and is silent.
[Fr., read more

The silly when deceived exclaim loudly; the fool complains; the
honest man walks away and is silent.
[Fr., Le bruit est pour le fat, la plainte pour le sot;
L'honnete homme trompe s'eloigne et ne dit mot.]