Let me tell you I am better acquainted with you for a long absence, as men are with themselves for a long affliction: absence does... but hold off a friend, to make one see him the truer.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I find myself ... hoping a total end of all the unhappy divisions of mankind by party-spirit, which at best is but the madness of ...many for the gain of a few.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
lf, 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.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In Pride, in reas'ning Pride, our error lies; All quit their sphere, and rush into the skies.... Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes, Men would be Angels, Angels would be Gods.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man.... Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side, With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride, He hangs between; in doubt to act or rest, In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast, In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reasoning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such Whether he thinks too little or too much: Chaos of thought and passion, all confused; Still by himself abused, or disabused; Created half to rise and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurled; The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »