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The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the fool.

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
World
Fool
Gives
Playing
Greatest
Greater
Freedom
Thought
Wit
Giving
Advantage

More quotes by Alexander Pope

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If, presume not to God to scan The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being darkly wise, and rudely great.
Alexander Pope
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The bookful blockhead ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head, With his own tongue still edifies his ears, And always list'ning to himself appears. All books he reads, and all he reads assails.
Alexander Pope
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Tis strange the miser should his cares employTo gain those riches he can ne'er enjoyIs it less strange the prodigal should wasteHis wealth to purchase what he ne'er can taste?
Alexander Pope
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Wretches hang that jurymen may dine.
Alexander Pope
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A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind.
Alexander Pope
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Some to conceit alone their taste confine, And glittering thoughts struck out at ev'ry line Pleas'd with a work where nothing's just or fit One glaring chaos and wild heap of wit.
Alexander Pope
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Be niggards of advice on no pretense For the worst avarice is that of sense.
Alexander Pope
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Trace Science, then, with Modesty thy guide, First strip off all her equipage of Pride, Deduct what is but Vanity or Dress, Or Learning's Luxury or idleness, Or tricks, to show the stretch of the human brain Mere curious pleasure or ingenious pain.
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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True disputants are like true sportsmen: their whole delight is in the pursuit.
Alexander Pope
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Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain Here earth and water seem to strive again, Not chaos-like together crushed and bruised, But, as the world, harmoniously confused: Where order in variety we see, And where, though all things differ, all agree.
Alexander Pope
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To balance Fortune by a just expense, Join with Economy, Magnificence.
Alexander Pope
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Whatever is, is right.
Alexander Pope
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How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight!
Alexander Pope
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By flatterers besieged And so obliging that he ne'er obliged.
Alexander Pope
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Vast chain of being! which from God began, Natures ethereal, human, angel, man, Beast, bird, fish, insect, what no eye can see, No glass can reach, from infinite to Thee, From Thee to nothing.
Alexander Pope
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O happiness! our being's end and aim! Good, pleasure, ease, content! whate'er thy name: That something still which prompts the eternal sigh, For which we bear to live, or dare to die.
Alexander Pope
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You purchase pain with all that joy can give and die of nothing but a rage to live.
Alexander Pope
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Words are like Leaves and where they most abound, Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.
Alexander Pope
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In this commonplace world every one is said to be romantic who either admires a fine thing or does one.
Alexander Pope