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.

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a
pestle, yet will not his foolishness read more

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a
pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

The solemn fog; significant and budge;
A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge.

The solemn fog; significant and budge;
A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge.

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom too fine spun

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom too fine spun

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.

A fool must now and then be right by chance.

A fool must now and then be right by chance.

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.

He is a fool
Who only sees the mischiefs that are past.

He is a fool
Who only sees the mischiefs that are past.