Alexander Pope on Character
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“Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.”
“Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit a man; Simplicity, a child.”
“With too much Quickness ever to be taught; With too much Thinking to have common Thought.”
“Good-humor only teaches charms to last, Still makes new conquests and maintains the past.”
“Beauty that shocks you, parts that none will trust, Wit that can creep, and pride that licks the dust.”
“In men we various ruling passions find; In women two almost divide the kind; Those only fixed, they first or last obey, The love of pleasure, and the love of sway.”
“From loveless youth to unrespected age, No passion gratified, except her rage, So much the fury still outran the wit, That pleasure miss'd her, and the scandal hit.”
“What then remains, but well our power to use, And keep good-humor still whate'er we lose? And trust me, dear, good-humor can prevail, When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail.”
“'Tis from high Life high Characters are drawn; A Saint in Crape is twice a Saint in Lawn: A Judge is just, a Chanc'llor juster still; A Gownman learn'd; a Bishop what you will; Wise if a minister; but if a King, More wise, more learn'd, more just, more ev'rything.”
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