“ Men in their loose unguarded hours they take, Not that themselves are wise, but others weak. ”
Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man (1734). copy citation
Author | Alexander Pope |
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Source | An Essay on Man |
Topic | |
Date | 1734 |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | |
Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2428/2428-h/2428-h.htm |
Context
“The whole strange purpose of their lives, to find Or make, an enemy of all mankind? Not one looks backward, onward still he goes, Yet ne'er looks forward farther than his nose. No less alike the politic and wise; All sly slow things, with circumspective eyes; Men in their loose unguarded hours they take, Not that themselves are wise, but others weak. But grant that those can conquer, these can cheat; 'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great: Who wickedly is wise, or madly brave, Is but the more a fool, the more a knave. Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains, Like good Aurelius let him reign, or bleed Like Socrates, that man is great indeed.”
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