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
bird natural prey
For critics, as they are birds of prey, have ever a natural inclination to carrion.
age fool patriot
A patriot is a fool in ev'ry age.
numbers lisp
I lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.
coins dear grows
Authors, like coins, grow dear as they grow old.
heart tongue
A gen'rous heart repairs a sland'rous tongue.
song children
What will a child learn sooner than a song?
lying good-friend degrees
If it be the chief point of friendship to comply with a friends motions and inclinations, he possesses this in a eminent degree; he lies down when I sit, and walks when I walk, which is more than many good friends can pretend to do.
truth people littles
There are certain times when most people are in a disposition of being informed, and 'tis incredible what a vast good a little truth might do, spoken in such seasons.
soil bears influence
Court-virtues bear, like gems, the highest rate, Born where Heav'n influence scarce can penetrate. In life's low vale, the soil the virtues like, They please as beauties, here as wonders strike.
kings light degrees
Virtue may choose the high or low degree, 'Tis just alike to virtue, and to me; Dwell in a monk, or light upon a king, She's still the same belov'd, contented thing.
sleep two race
Sleep and death, two twins of winged race, Of matchless swiftness, but of silent pace.
thinking young-friends young-love
It is very natural for a young friend and a young lover to think the persons they love have nothing to do but to please them.
self self-love social
True self-love and social are the same.
spring men self
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul; Reason's comparing balance rules the whole. Man, but for that no action could attend, And, but for this, were active to no end: Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot; Or, meteor-like, flame lawless thro' the void, Destroying others, by himself destroy'd.