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Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.
Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.
 "Not to admire, is all the art I know
 (Plain truth, dear Murray, needs few flowers of speech)
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 "Not to admire, is all the art I know
 (Plain truth, dear Murray, needs few flowers of speech)
  To make men happy, or to keep them so."
   (So take it in the very words of Creech)
    Thus Horace wrote we all know long ago;
     And thus Pope quotes the precept to re-teach
      From his translation; but had none admired,
       Would Pope have sung, or Horace been inspired? 
here is an innocence in admiration; it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, read more
here is an innocence in admiration; it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, too, might be admired some day.
Men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, read more
Men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and pass themselves by.
Distance is a great promoter of admiration!
Distance is a great promoter of admiration!
You always admire what you really don't understand.
You always admire what you really don't understand.
 On dit que dans ses amours
 Il fut caresse des belles,
  Qui le suivirent toujours,
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 On dit que dans ses amours
 Il fut caresse des belles,
  Qui le suivirent toujours,
   Tant qu'il marcha devant elles. 
The only things one can admire at length are those one admires without knowing why.
The only things one can admire at length are those one admires without knowing why.
 To admire nothing, (as most are wont to do;)
 Is the only method that I know,
  To read more 
 To admire nothing, (as most are wont to do;)
 Is the only method that I know,
  To make men happy, and to keep them so.