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Alexander Pope

48 quotes

Alexander Pope (1688–1744) was an English poet and satirist best known for his sharp wit and mastery of the heroic couplet. Works like *The Rape of the Lock* and *An Essay on Man* established him as the foremost poet of the early 18th century. Many of his lines — such as "To err is human, to forgive divine" — have become proverbial.

“Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon.”

— Alexander Pope

Education

All Quotes by Alexander Pope

“One science only will one genius fit so vast is art, so narrow human wit.”

— Alexander Pope

Art

“Extremes in nature equal ends produce In man they join to some mysterious use.”

— Alexander Pope

Nature

“If a man's character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.”

— Alexander Pope

Business

“An honest man's the noblest work of God.”

— Alexander Pope

God

“Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.”

— Alexander Pope

Education

“Tis but a part we see, and not a whole.”

— Alexander Pope

Wisdom

“The most positive men are the most credulous.”

— Alexander Pope

Men

“A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.”

— Alexander Pope

Business

“And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in a masquerade.”

— Alexander Pope

Truth

“What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease.”

— Alexander Pope

Diet

“They dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake.”

— Alexander Pope

Marriage

“Some old men, continually praise the time of their youth. In fact, you would almost think that there were no fools in their days, but unluckily they themselves are left as an example.”

— Alexander Pope

Men

“But blind to former as to future fate, what mortal knows his pre-existent state?”

— Alexander Pope

Future

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always To be Blest.”

— Alexander Pope

Hope

“Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.”

— Alexander Pope

Trust

“Know then thyself, presume not God to scan The proper study of mankind is man.”

— Alexander Pope

God

“The learned is happy, nature to explore The fool is happy, that he knows no more.”

— Alexander Pope

Nature

“Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell aspiring to be angels men rebel.”

— Alexander Pope

Best

“All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the soul.”

— Alexander Pope

God

“Nature and nature's laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!”

— Alexander Pope

God