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To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense is like attempting to hew blocks with a razor.

Alexander Pope

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Alexander Pope
Age: 56 †
Born: 1688
Born: May 21
Died: 1744
Died: May 30
Literary Historian
Poet
Translator
the City
Pope the Poet
Alexander I Pope
Alexander
I Pope
Endeavor
Block
Fine
Razor
Upon
Razors
Sense
Vulgarity
Work
Blocks
Like
Attempting
Vulgar

More quotes by Alexander Pope

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But just disease to luxury succeeds, And ev'ry death its own avenger breeds.
Alexander Pope
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See skulking Truth to her old cavern fled, Mountains of Casuistry heap'd o'er her head! Philosophy, that lean'd on Heav'n before, Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more. Physic of Metaphysic begs defence, And Metaphysic calls for aid on Sense! See Mystery to Mathematics fly!
Alexander Pope
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I think a good deal may be said to extenuate the fault of bad Poets. What we call a Genius, is hard to be distinguish'd by a man himself, from a strong inclination: and if his genius be ever so great, he can not at first discover it any other way, than by giving way to that prevalent propensity which renders him the more liable to be mistaken.
Alexander Pope
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A naked lover bound and bleeding lies!
Alexander Pope
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The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd
Alexander Pope
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A perfect judge will read each word of wit with the same spirit that its author writ.
Alexander Pope
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Whoe'er he be That tells my faults, I hate him mortally.
Alexander Pope
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Why did I write? What sin to me unknown dipped me in ink, my parents , or my own?
Alexander Pope
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There are some solitary wretches who seem to have left the rest of mankind, only, as Eve left Adam, to meet the devil in private.
Alexander Pope
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Chiefs who no more in bloody fights engage, But wise through time, and narrative with age, In summer-days like grasshoppers rejoice - A bloodless race, that send a feeble voice.
Alexander Pope
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They dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake.
Alexander Pope
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Time conquers all, and we must time obey.
Alexander Pope
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The most positive men are the most credulous, since they most believe themselves, and advise most with their falsest flatterer and worst enemy--their own self-love.
Alexander Pope
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Oh, blindness to the future! kindly giv'n, That each may fill the circle mark'd by heaven.
Alexander Pope
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Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurled: / The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!
Alexander Pope
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The grave unites where e'en the great find rest, And blended lie th' oppressor and th' oppressed!
Alexander Pope
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He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.
Alexander Pope
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Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide: If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.
Alexander Pope
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Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words,-health, peace, and competence.
Alexander Pope
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All nature is but art unknown to thee.
Alexander Pope