Quotes
Quotes about Man
As full, as perfect, in vile man that mourns
As the rapt seraph that adores and burns:
To Him no high, no low, no great, no small;
He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all!
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan;
The proper study of mankind is man.
Extremes in nature equal ends produce;
In man they join to some mysterious use.
Virtuous and vicious every man must be,--
Few in the extreme, but all in the degree.
While man exclaims, "See all things for my use!"
"See man for mine!" replies a pamper'd goose.
The enormous faith of many made for one.
For forms of government let fools contest;
Whate'er is best administer'd is best.
For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight;
His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.
In faith and hope the world will disagree,
But all mankind's concern is charity.
Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow;
The rest is all but leather or prunello.
A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod;
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shin'd,
The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind!
Or ravish'd with the whistling of a name,
See Cromwell, damn'd to everlasting fame!
Know then this truth (enough for man to know),--
"Virtue alone is happiness below."
Never elated when one man's oppress'd;
Never dejected while another's bless'd.
Not always actions show the man; we find
Who does a kindness is not therefore kind.
Manners with fortunes, humours turn with climes,
Tenets with books, and principles with times.
Whether the charmer sinner it or saint it,
If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.
Men, some to business, some to pleasure take;
But every woman is at heart a rake.
Woman's at best a contradiction still.
Extremes in Nature equal good produce;
Extremes in man concur to general use.
Rise, honest muse! and sing The Man of Ross.
Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honour clear;
Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end,
Who gain'd no title, and who lost no friend.
One science only will one genius fit:
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgment, and misguide the mind;
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,--
Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
Fair tresses man's imperial race insnare,
And beauty draws us with a single hair.
Friend to my life, which did not you prolong,
The world had wanted many an idle song.
