Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Popewas an 18th-century English poet. He is best known for his satirical verse, as well as for his translation of Homer. Famous for his use of the heroic couplet, he is the second-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth21 May 1688
wise army skills
A wise physician, skill'd our wounds to heal, is more than armies to the public weal.
doe opinion obstinate
An obstinate person does not hold opinions; they hold them.
wise long age
But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise, Whom age, and long experience render wise.
science doubt littles
To teach vain Wits that Science little known, T' admire Superior Sense, and doubt their own!
science trying firsts
New, distant Scenes of endless Science rise: So pleas'd at first, the towring Alps we try,...
science superficial-knowledge eels
Index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of Science by the tail. Index-learning is a term used to mock pretenders who acquire superficial knowledge merely by consulting indexes.
pain pride science
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.
men advice proud
Where's the man who counsel can bestow, still pleased to teach, and yet not proud to know.
mean grace wealth
Get place and wealth, if possible with grace; if not, by any means get wealth and place.
romance world doe
In this commonplace world every one is said to be romantic who either admires a fine thing or does one.
past lasts argument
When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last.
nature exercise imagination
The Physician, by the study and inspection of urine and ordure, approves himself in the science; and in like sort should our author accustom and exercise his imagination upon the dregs of nature.
nature children fur
Know, Nature's children all divide her care, The fur that warms a monarch warmed a bear.
running mad insanity
The worst of madmen is a saint run mad.