It's wiser being good than bad;
It's safer being meek than fierce:
It's fitter being sane than read more

It's wiser being good than bad;
It's safer being meek than fierce:
It's fitter being sane than mad.
My own hope is, a sun will pierce
The thickest cloud earth ever stretched;
That, after Last, returns the First,
Though a wide compass round be fetched;
That what began best, can't end worst,
Nor what God blessed once, prove accurst.

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]

To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say comparisons are odd.

To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say comparisons are odd.

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of read more

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of the multitude may be.
[Lat., Hoc ego, tuque sumus: set quod sum, non potes esse:
Tu quod es, e populo quilibet esse potest.]

Like lips like lettuce (i.e. like has met its like).
(Lat., Similem habent labra lactucam.]

Like lips like lettuce (i.e. like has met its like).
(Lat., Similem habent labra lactucam.]

Not worthy to carry the buckler unto him.

Not worthy to carry the buckler unto him.

They say comparisons are odious. I say: compared to what?

They say comparisons are odious. I say: compared to what?

Our similarities are different.

Our similarities are different.

Comparisons do ofttime great grievance.

Comparisons do ofttime great grievance.