The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of read more

The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of the air.
[Fr., Les Anglais, nation trop fiere
S'arrogent l'empire des mers;
Les Francais, nation legere,
S'emparent de celui des airs.]

My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
read more

My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession,
many.

Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession,
many.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
read more

Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
And a few Friends, and many Books both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too.
And since Love ne'er will from me flee,
A mistress moderately fair,
And good as Guardian angels are,
Only belov'd and loving me.

Of a rich man who was mean and niggardly, he said, "That man does
not possess his estate, but read more

Of a rich man who was mean and niggardly, he said, "That man does
not possess his estate, but his estate possesses him."

Possession means to sit astride the world
Instead of having it astride of you.

Possession means to sit astride the world
Instead of having it astride of you.

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you
may have in the future. read more

It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you
may have in the future. The one is sure and the other is not.
[Fr., Un tiens vaut, ce dit-on, mieux que deux tu l'auras.
L'un est sur, l'autre ne l'est pas.]