What most we wish, with ease we fancy near.

What most we wish, with ease we fancy near.

I wish they would only take me as I am.

I wish they would only take me as I am.

"Man wants but little here below
Nor wants that little long,"
'Tis not with me exactly so;
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"Man wants but little here below
Nor wants that little long,"
'Tis not with me exactly so;
But 'tis so in the song.
My wants are many, and, if told,
Would muster many a score;
And were each wish a mint of gold,
I still should long for more.

He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
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He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
Meets the same welcome; yet he still calls on;
Till one calls him, who varies not his call,
But holds him fast, in chains of darkness bound,
Till Nature dies, and judgment sets him free;
A freedom far less welcome than this chain.

O, that I were where I would be,
Then would I be where I am not;
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O, that I were where I would be,
Then would I be where I am not;
For where I am I would not be,
And where I would be I can not.

Wishers and woulders be small householders.

Wishers and woulders be small householders.

And the evil wish is most evil to the wisher.

And the evil wish is most evil to the wisher.

What folly can be ranker. Like our shadows,
Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

What folly can be ranker. Like our shadows,
Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.