Health consists with temperance alone.
But blind to former as to future fate, what mortal knows his pre-existent state?
Happy the man whose wish and care a few paternal acres bound, content to breathe his native air in his own ground.
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.
Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.
The difference is too nice – Where ends the virtue or begins the vice.
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot? The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
The learned is happy, nature to explore; The fool is happy, that he knows no more.
For Forms of Government let fools contest; whatever is best administered is best.
But Satan now is wiser than of yore, and tempts by making rich, not making poor.
Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.
The ruling passion, be it what it will. The ruling passion conquers reason still.
Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!
If a man’s character is to be abused there’s nobody like a relative to do the business.
Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire.
Woman’s at best a contradiction still.
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.
Like Cato, give his little senate laws, and sit attentive to his own applause.