Alexander Pope ( 10 of 261 )
Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit read more
Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit in pompous words express'd,
Is like a clown in regal purple dress'd.
Say first, of God above or man below,
What can we reason but from what we know?
Say first, of God above or man below,
What can we reason but from what we know?
Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet
To run amuck and tilt at all I meet.
Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet
To run amuck and tilt at all I meet.
Th' unwilling gratitude of base mankind!
Th' unwilling gratitude of base mankind!
The ruling passion, be it what it will,
The ruling passion conquers reason still.
The ruling passion, be it what it will,
The ruling passion conquers reason still.
And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too.
And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too.
Like Cato, give his little senate laws,
And sit attentive to his own applause.
Like Cato, give his little senate laws,
And sit attentive to his own applause.
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.
Bring, bring the madding Bay, the drunken wine;
The creeping, dirty, courtly Ivy join.
Bring, bring the madding Bay, the drunken wine;
The creeping, dirty, courtly Ivy join.
Thus unlamented pass the proud away,
The gaze of fools and pageant of a day;
So perish read more
Thus unlamented pass the proud away,
The gaze of fools and pageant of a day;
So perish all, whose breast ne'er learn'd to glow
For others' good, or melt at others' woe.
