Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

93 Notable Quotes By Alexander Pope, The Author Of The Dunciad

Famous As: One of the Most Prominent English Poets of the Early 18th Century
Born On: May 21, 1688
Died On: May 30, 1744
Born In: London, England, United Kingdom
Died At Age: 56

Alexander Pope was a poet and translator from England who lived from 1688 to 1744 and is often regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in the history of English literature. Pope had to endure several health scares throughout his childhood but he continued to write and in 1709, his work Pastorals was published that made him a household name in literary circles shortly after. Two years later, he wrote An Essay on Criticism that was also a hit among the audiences. Some of his most noted works include ‘An Essay on Man’, ‘An Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady’, ‘The Temple of Fame: A Vision’, ‘Windsor Forest’, ‘Messiah’, ‘The Duncaid’ and ‘An Essay on Criticism’ among others. On the other hand, he was an accomplished linguist, who translated two of the greatest epics in Greek literature, ‘Iliad’ and ‘Oddysey’, into English. Pope was also responsible for having made extensive use of the heroic couplet in his works and that had made him one of the most quotable authors in the history of the English language. According to The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, he stands second only to William Shakespeare in terms of frequency. Here are some of his notable quotes.

Listed In:
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

Alexander Pope
To err is human, to forgive, divine.

To err is human, to forgive, divine.

Alexander Pope
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Alexander Pope
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Alexander Pope
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d

How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d

Alexander Pope
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot.

Alexander Pope
A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

Alexander Pope
What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone.

What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone.

Alexander Pope
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.

A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring; There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again.

Alexander Pope
Act well your part; there all the honour lies.

Act well your part; there all the honour lies.

Alexander Pope
If you want to know what God thinks about money just look at the people He gives it to.

If you want to know what God thinks about money just look at the people He gives it to.

Alexander Pope
Hope springs eternal in the human breast; 
Man never Is, but always To be blest. 
The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home, 
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

Alexander Pope
Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; 
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Alexander Pope
You purchase pain with all that joy can give and die of nothing but a rage to live.

You purchase pain with all that joy can give and die of nothing but a rage to live.

Alexander Pope
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Alexander Pope
Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.

Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound, Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.

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

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

Alexander Pope
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, As those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.

Alexander Pope
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

Alexander Pope
Our judgments, like our watches, none
go just alike, yet each believes his own

Our judgments, like our watches, none go just alike, yet each believes his own

Alexander Pope
To wake the soul by tender strokes of art,
To raise the genius, and to mend the heart

To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart

Alexander Pope
Death, only death, can break the lasting chain;
And here, ev'n then, shall my cold dust remain

Death, only death, can break the lasting chain; And here, ev'n then, shall my cold dust remain

Alexander Pope
If I am right, Thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, O, teach my heart
To find that better way!

If I am right, Thy grace impart Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, O, teach my heart To find that better way!

Alexander Pope
No woman ever hates a man
for being in love with her;
but mainly a woman hates a
man for being her friend.

No woman ever hates a man for being in love with her; but mainly a woman hates a man for being her friend.

Alexander Pope
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Alexander Pope
Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night:
God said, Let Newton be! and all was light.

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

Alexander Pope
And die of nothing but a rage to live

And die of nothing but a rage to live

Alexander Pope
Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

Alexander Pope
All Nature is but art, unknown to thee
All chance, direction, which thou canst not see;
All discord, harmony not understood; 
All partial evil, universal good.

All Nature is but art, unknown to thee All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; All discord, harmony not understood; All partial evil, universal good.

Alexander Pope
Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgement, and misguide the mind,
What the weak head with strongest bias rules, 
Is PRIDE, the never-failing vice of fools.

Of all the causes which conspire to blind Man's erring judgement, and misguide the mind, What the weak head with strongest bias rules, Is PRIDE, the never-failing vice of fools.

Alexander Pope
I am his Highness' dog at Kew;
Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

I am his Highness' dog at Kew; Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

Alexander Pope
Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire.

Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire.

Alexander Pope
Men must be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown propos'd as things forgot.

Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos'd as things forgot.

Alexander Pope
An honest man's the noblest work of God

An honest man's the noblest work of God

Alexander Pope
Music resembles poetry, in each
Are nameless graces which no methods teach,
And which a master hand alone can reach.

Music resembles poetry, in each Are nameless graces which no methods teach, And which a master hand alone can reach.

Alexander Pope
An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie;for an excuse is a lie guarded

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie;for an excuse is a lie guarded

Alexander Pope
Whatever is, is right.

Whatever is, is right.

Alexander Pope
This long disease, my life.

This long disease, my life.

Alexander Pope
The world forgetting by the world forgot.

The world forgetting by the world forgot.

Alexander Pope
Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride,
Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide:
If to her share some female errors fall,
Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide: If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

Alexander Pope
Sir, I admit your general rule,
That every poet is a fool.
But you yourself may prove to show it,
Every fool is not a poet.

Sir, I admit your general rule, That every poet is a fool. But you yourself may prove to show it, Every fool is not a poet.

Alexander Pope
Order is heaven's first law.

Order is heaven's first law.

Alexander Pope
Brevity is the soul of wit.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

Alexander Pope
Chaos of thought and passion, all confus'd.

Chaos of thought and passion, all confus'd.

Alexander Pope
What dire offence from am'rous causes springs,
What mighty contests rise from trivial things,...

What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things,...

Alexander Pope
Then most our trouble still when most admired,
And still the more we give, the more required;
Whose fame with pains we guard, but lose with ease,
Sure some to vex, but never all to please.

Then most our trouble still when most admired, And still the more we give, the more required; Whose fame with pains we guard, but lose with ease, Sure some to vex, but never all to please.

Alexander Pope
Our rural ancestors, with little blest, 
Patient of labor when the end was rest, 
Indulged the day that housed their annual grain, 
With feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain.

Our rural ancestors, with little blest, Patient of labor when the end was rest, Indulged the day that housed their annual grain, With feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain.

Alexander Pope
In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold;
Alike fantastic, if too new, or old:
Be not the first by whom the new are tried,
Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

In words, as fashions, the same rule will hold; Alike fantastic, if too new, or old: Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

Alexander Pope
While pensive poets painful vigils keep,
Sleepless themselves, to give their readers sleep.

While pensive poets painful vigils keep, Sleepless themselves, to give their readers sleep.

Alexander Pope
Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true,
But are not critics to their judgment, too?

Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true, But are not critics to their judgment, too?

Alexander Pope
Know thyself, presume not God to scan;
The proper study of mankind is man.

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

Alexander Pope
All forms that perish other forms supply,
(By turns we catch the vital breath and die)
Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne,
They rise, they break, and to that sea return.

All forms that perish other forms supply, (By turns we catch the vital breath and die) Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne, They rise, they break, and to that sea return.

Alexander Pope
Men, some to business take, some to pleasure take; but every woman is at heart a rake

Men, some to business take, some to pleasure take; but every woman is at heart a rake

Alexander Pope
A work of art that contains theories is like an object on which the price tag has been left.

A work of art that contains theories is like an object on which the price tag has been left.

Alexander Pope
True wit is nature to advantage dressed;
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.

True wit is nature to advantage dressed; What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.

Alexander Pope
Some who grow dull religious straight commence
And gain in morals what they lose in sense.

Some who grow dull religious straight commence And gain in morals what they lose in sense.

Alexander Pope
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown; Thus unlamented let me die; Steal from the world, and not a stone Tell where I lie.

Alexander Pope
Remembrance and reflection how allied!
What thin partitions Sense from Thought divide!

Remembrance and reflection how allied! What thin partitions Sense from Thought divide!

Alexander Pope
For forms of Government let fools contest. Whate'er is best administered is best.

For forms of Government let fools contest. Whate'er is best administered is best.

Alexander Pope
The Dying Christian to His Soul (1712)

-Vital spark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, oh quit, this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
Oh the pain, the bliss of dying!

Stanza 1.

The Dying Christian to His Soul (1712) -Vital spark of heav'nly flame! Quit, oh quit, this mortal frame: Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying, Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! Stanza 1.

Alexander Pope
Averse alike to flatter, or offend;
Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

Averse alike to flatter, or offend; Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

Alexander Pope
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.

Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air In his own ground.

Alexander Pope
One science only will one genius fit/ So vast is art, so narrow human wit

One science only will one genius fit/ So vast is art, so narrow human wit

Alexander Pope
For he lives twice who can at once employ,
The present well, and e’en the past enjoy.

For he lives twice who can at once employ, The present well, and e’en the past enjoy.

Alexander Pope
For when success a lover's toil attends,
Few ask, if fraud or force attain'd his ends

For when success a lover's toil attends, Few ask, if fraud or force attain'd his ends

Alexander Pope
Yes, I am proud; I must be proud to see
Men not afraid of God afraid of me.

Yes, I am proud; I must be proud to see Men not afraid of God afraid of me.

Alexander Pope
Philosophy, that leaned on Heaven before,
Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more.

Philosophy, that leaned on Heaven before, Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more.

Alexander Pope
No place so scared from such frops is barred 
 Nor is Paul's Church more safe than Paul's Churchyard 
 Na fly to alter there they'll talk you dead 
 For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

No place so scared from such frops is barred Nor is Paul's Church more safe than Paul's Churchyard Na fly to alter there they'll talk you dead For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Alexander Pope
Sure flattery never traveled so far as three thousand miles; it is now only for truth, which over takes all things, to reach you at this distance.

Sure flattery never traveled so far as three thousand miles; it is now only for truth, which over takes all things, to reach you at this distance.

Alexander Pope
We may see the small Value God has for Riches, by the People he gives them to.

We may see the small Value God has for Riches, by the People he gives them to." [Thoughts on Various Subjects, 1727]

Alexander Pope
For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight, His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight, His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

Alexander Pope
To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

Alexander Pope
What conscience dictates to be done, 
 Or warns me not to do, 
This, teach me more than Hell to shun, 
 That, more than Heaven pursue.

What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This, teach me more than Hell to shun, That, more than Heaven pursue.

Alexander Pope
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll,
In pleasing memory of all he stole.

Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll, In pleasing memory of all he stole.

Alexander Pope
Why charge we Heav'n in those, in these acquit?
In both, to reason right is to submit.

Why charge we Heav'n in those, in these acquit? In both, to reason right is to submit.

Alexander Pope
How happy he, who free from care
The rage of courts, and noise of towns; Contented breathes his native air,
In his own grounds

How happy he, who free from care The rage of courts, and noise of towns; Contented breathes his native air, In his own grounds

Alexander Pope
All this dread order break- for whom? for thee?
Vile worm!- oh madness! pride! impiety!

All this dread order break- for whom? for thee? Vile worm!- oh madness! pride! impiety!

Alexander Pope
Trust not yourself; but your defects to know,
Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.

Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.

Alexander Pope
Thy voice I seem in ev'ry hymn to hear, with ev'ry bead I drop too soft a tear...

Thy voice I seem in ev'ry hymn to hear, with ev'ry bead I drop too soft a tear...

Alexander Pope
How vain are all these Glories, all our Pains,
Unless good Sense preserve what Beauty gains:
That Men may say, when we the Front-box grace,
Behold the first in Virtue, as in Face!

How vain are all these Glories, all our Pains, Unless good Sense preserve what Beauty gains: That Men may say, when we the Front-box grace, Behold the first in Virtue, as in Face!

Alexander Pope
Some judge of authors' names, not works, and then nor praise nor blame the writings, but the men.

Some judge of authors' names, not works, and then nor praise nor blame the writings, but the men.

Alexander Pope
The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

Alexander Pope
Intrepid then, o'er seas and lands he flew:
Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too.

Intrepid then, o'er seas and lands he flew: Europe he saw, and Europe saw him too.

Alexander Pope
Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day,
Charm'd the small-pox, or chased old age away;
Who would not scorn what housewife's cares produce,
Or who would learn one earthly thing of use?

Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day, Charm'd the small-pox, or chased old age away; Who would not scorn what housewife's cares produce, Or who would learn one earthly thing of use?

Alexander Pope
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall,
Atoms or systems into ruin hurled,
And now a bubble burst, and now a world.

Who sees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish, or a sparrow fall, Atoms or systems into ruin hurled, And now a bubble burst, and now a world.

Alexander Pope
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, taste not the Pierian Spring

A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, taste not the Pierian Spring

Alexander Pope
Inscriptions here of various Names I view'd,
The greater part by hostile time subdu'd;
Yet wide was spread their fame in ages past,
And Poets once had promis'd they should last.

Inscriptions here of various Names I view'd, The greater part by hostile time subdu'd; Yet wide was spread their fame in ages past, And Poets once had promis'd they should last.

Alexander Pope
Know thy own point: this kind, this due degree
Of blindness, weakness, Heav'n bestows on thee.

Know thy own point: this kind, this due degree Of blindness, weakness, Heav'n bestows on thee.

Alexander Pope
Las palabras son como las hojas; cuando abundan, poco fruto hay entre ellas.

Las palabras son como las hojas; cuando abundan, poco fruto hay entre ellas.

Alexander Pope
An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie

Alexander Pope
Where beams of imagination play,
The memory's soft figures melt away.

Where beams of imagination play, The memory's soft figures melt away.

Alexander Pope
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of Sense,
Lie in three words, Health, Peace, and Competence.
But Health consists with Temperance alone,
And Peace, oh Virtue! Peace is all thy own.

Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of Sense, Lie in three words, Health, Peace, and Competence. But Health consists with Temperance alone, And Peace, oh Virtue! Peace is all thy own.

Alexander Pope