Fond man! though all the heroes of your line
Bedeck your halls, and round your galleries shine
read more

Fond man! though all the heroes of your line
Bedeck your halls, and round your galleries shine
In proud display; yet take this truth from me--
Virtue alone is true nobility!

Peter was dull; he was at first
Dull;--Oh, so dull--so very dull!
Whether he talked, wrote, or read more

Peter was dull; he was at first
Dull;--Oh, so dull--so very dull!
Whether he talked, wrote, or rehearsed--
Still with his dulness was he cursed--
Dull--beyond all conception--dull.

True nobility is exempt from fear.

True nobility is exempt from fear.

A noble soul alone can noble souls attract;
And knows alone, as ye, to hold them.
[Ger., read more

A noble soul alone can noble souls attract;
And knows alone, as ye, to hold them.
[Ger., Ein edler Mensch zieht edle Menschen an,
Und weiss sie fest zu halten, wie ihr thut.]

Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning die,
But leave us still our old nobility.

Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning die,
But leave us still our old nobility.

It is perhaps common in the world for individuals and nations to suffer for their noble qualities more than for read more

It is perhaps common in the world for individuals and nations to suffer for their noble qualities more than for their ignoble ones. For nobility is an occasion for pride, the most treacherous of sentiments.

There is no sin except stupidity.

There is no sin except stupidity.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

The impenetrable stupidity of Prince George (son-in-law of James
II) served his turn. It was his habit, when any read more

The impenetrable stupidity of Prince George (son-in-law of James
II) served his turn. It was his habit, when any news was told
him, to exclaim, "Est il possible?"--"Is it possible?"