Beautiful as sweet!And young as beautiful! and soft as young!And gay as soft! and innocent as gay. Night-Thoughts (1742)
At thirty, man suspects himself a fool;Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan;At fifty chides his infamous delay,Pushes his prudent purpose to resolve;In all the magnanimity of thoughtResolves, and re-resolves; then dies the same. Night-Thoughts (1742)
Pygmies are pygmies still, though percht on Alps;And pyramids are pyramids in vales.Each man makes his own stature, builds himself.Virtue alone outbuilds the Pyramids;Her monuments shall last when Egypt’s fall. Night-Thoughts (1742)