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.

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.

One is easily fooled by that which one loves.
[Fr., On est aisement dupe par ce qu'on aime.]

One is easily fooled by that which one loves.
[Fr., On est aisement dupe par ce qu'on aime.]

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.]

The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.

The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.

Everyone is born sincere and die deceivers.

Everyone is born sincere and die deceivers.

Pretexts are not wanting when one wishes to use them.
[It., Non mancano pretesti quando si vuole.]

Pretexts are not wanting when one wishes to use them.
[It., Non mancano pretesti quando si vuole.]

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.

God is not averse to deceit in a holy cause.

God is not averse to deceit in a holy cause.