Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut than shown;
For vice repeated is like the wand'ring wind,
Blows dust in others' eye, to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear
To stop the air would hurt them.
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Those vices [luxury and neglect of decent manners] are vices of
men, not of the times.
[Lat., Hominum read more
Those vices [luxury and neglect of decent manners] are vices of
men, not of the times.
[Lat., Hominum sunt ista [vitia], non temporum.
The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have read more
The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
A vice is a failure of desire.
A vice is a failure of desire.
Saint Augustine! well hast thou said,
That of our vices we can frame
A ladder, if we read more
Saint Augustine! well hast thou said,
That of our vices we can frame
A ladder, if we will but tread
Beneath our feet each deed of shame.
There will be vice as long as there are men.
There will be vice as long as there are men.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.
I prefer an interesting vice to a virtue that bores
I prefer an interesting vice to a virtue that bores
O, what a mansion have those vices got
Which for their habitation chose out thee,
Where beauty's read more
O, what a mansion have those vices got
Which for their habitation chose out thee,
Where beauty's veil doth cover every blot
And all things turns to fair that eyes can see!
This is the essential evil of vice, that it debases man.
This is the essential evil of vice, that it debases man.
