He seemed
For dignity compos'd and high exploit:
But all was false and hollow.

He seemed
For dignity compos'd and high exploit:
But all was false and hollow.

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.

Hateful to me as are the gates of hell,
Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart,
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Hateful to me as are the gates of hell,
Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart,
Utters another.

Falsehood is never so successful as when she baits her hook with truth, and no opinions so fastly misled us read more

Falsehood is never so successful as when she baits her hook with truth, and no opinions so fastly misled us as those that are not wholly wrong, as no timepieces so effectively deceive the wearer as those that are sometimes right.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.

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.

We never deceive for a good purpose: knavery adds malice to
falsehood.
[Fr., On ne trompe point en read more

We never deceive for a good purpose: knavery adds malice to
falsehood.
[Fr., On ne trompe point en bien; la fourberie ajoute la malice
au mensonge.]

Men are always sincere. They change sincerities, that's all.

Men are always sincere. They change sincerities, that's all.

The people wish to be deceived; let them be deceived.
[Lat., Populus vult decipi; decipiatur.]

The people wish to be deceived; let them be deceived.
[Lat., Populus vult decipi; decipiatur.]