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.]

For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was read more

For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was man schwarz auf weiss besitzt,
Kann man getrost nach Hause tragen.]

Cleon hath ten thousand acres,--
Ne'er a one have I;
Cleon dwelleth in a place,--
read more

Cleon hath ten thousand acres,--
Ne'er a one have I;
Cleon dwelleth in a place,--
In a cottage I.

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their read more

It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards,
that the sun never sets upon their Dominions.

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.

Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
read more

Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
Her home is on the deep.

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

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

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.
[Lat., Male parta, male dilabuntur.]

What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.
[Lat., Male parta, male dilabuntur.]