I've often wished that I had clear,
For life, six hundred pounds a year,
A handsome house read more

I've often wished that I had clear,
For life, six hundred pounds a year,
A handsome house to lodge a friend,
A river at my garden's end,
A terrace walk, and half a rood
Of land, set out to plant a wood.

He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely read more

He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which read more

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which frugal nature lent him for an hour!

I wish I knew the good of wishing.

I wish I knew the good of wishing.

What one has wished for in youth, in old age one has in
abundance.
[Ger., Was man in read more

What one has wished for in youth, in old age one has in
abundance.
[Ger., Was man in der Jugend wunscht, hat man im Alter die
Fulle.]

Wishing, of all employments is the worst.

Wishing, of all employments is the worst.

When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.

When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.

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.