Alexander Pope on Birthday
1688–1744 England
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17 quotes
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words,—health, peace, and competence.
Who ne'er knew joy but friendship might divide,
Or gave his father grief but when he died.
Pleasures are ever in our hands or eyes;
And when in act they cease, in prospect rise.
Trust not yourself; but your defects to know,
Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.
What ill-starr'd rage
Divides a friendship long confirm'd by age?
Time conquers all, and we must time obey.
Ah, friend! to dazzle let the vain design;
To raise the thought and touch the heart be thine.
When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings.
Years following years steal something ev'ry day.
At last they steal us from ourselves away.
Why will you break the Sabbath of my days?
Now sick alike of Envy and of Praise.
Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear,
(A sigh the absent claims, the dead a tear.)
Is that a birthday? 'tis, alas! too clear;
'Tis but the funeral of the former year.
Attribution
Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Alexander Pope (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.