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 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
 And waste its sweetness on the desert air.  
 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
 And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.
It is better to be famous than notorious, but better to be notorious than obscure.
It is better to be famous than notorious, but better to be notorious than obscure.
 I give the fight up; let there be an end,
 A privacy, an obscure nook for me,
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 I give the fight up; let there be an end,
 A privacy, an obscure nook for me,
  I want to be forgotten even by God. 
 How often the highest talent lurks in obscurity.
 [Lat., Ut saepe summa ingenia in occulto latent!]  
 How often the highest talent lurks in obscurity.
 [Lat., Ut saepe summa ingenia in occulto latent!] 
Everybody is so talented nowadays that the only people I care to honour as deserving real distinction are those who read more
Everybody is so talented nowadays that the only people I care to honour as deserving real distinction are those who remain in obscurity.
 How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
 The world forgetting, by the world forgot.  
 How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
 The world forgetting, by the world forgot. 
 Like beauteous flowers which vainly waste their scent
 Of odours in unhaunted deserts.  
 Like beauteous flowers which vainly waste their scent
 Of odours in unhaunted deserts. 
 Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
 Thus unlamented let me die;
  Steal from the world, and not read more 
 Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
 Thus unlamented let me die;
  Steal from the world, and not a stone
   Tell where I lie.