A rational reaction against irrational excesses and vagaries of
skepticism may . . . readily degenerate into the rival read more

A rational reaction against irrational excesses and vagaries of
skepticism may . . . readily degenerate into the rival folly of
credulity.

Defend me, therefore, common sense, say
From reveries so airy, from the toil
Of dropping buckets into read more

Defend me, therefore, common sense, say
From reveries so airy, from the toil
Of dropping buckets into empty wells,
And growing old in drawing nothing up.

To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd.
And count their chickens ere they're hatch'd.

To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd.
And count their chickens ere they're hatch'd.

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom too fine spun

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom too fine spun

A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.
[Fr., Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot read more

A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.
[Fr., Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.]

Exactness is the sublimity of fools.
[Fr., L'exactitude est le sublime des sots.]

Exactness is the sublimity of fools.
[Fr., L'exactitude est le sublime des sots.]

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool
will be meddling.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool
will be meddling.

Folly loves the martyrdom of Fame.

Folly loves the martyrdom of Fame.

A fool and a wise man are alike both in the starting-place--their
birth, and at the post--their death; only read more

A fool and a wise man are alike both in the starting-place--their
birth, and at the post--their death; only they differ in the race
of their lives.