An essay on man. Cornish ed |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 6
Page 9
The gradations of sense , instinct , thought , reflection , reason ; that reason alone
countervails all the other faculties .... How much further this order and
subordination of living creatures may extend , above and below us ; were any
part of which ...
The gradations of sense , instinct , thought , reflection , reason ; that reason alone
countervails all the other faculties .... How much further this order and
subordination of living creatures may extend , above and below us ; were any
part of which ...
Page 24
Feels at each thread , and lives along the line : In the nice bee --- what sense so
subtly true From pois'nous herbs extracts the healing dew ? How instinct varies in
the grov'ling swine , Compar'd , half - reas'ning elephant , with thine !
Feels at each thread , and lives along the line : In the nice bee --- what sense so
subtly true From pois'nous herbs extracts the healing dew ? How instinct varies in
the grov'ling swine , Compar'd , half - reas'ning elephant , with thine !
Page 36
Self - love still stronger , as its object's nigh ; Reason's at distance , and in
prospect lie : That sees immediate good by present sense ; Reason , the future
and the consequence . Thicker than arguments temptations throng , At best more
...
Self - love still stronger , as its object's nigh ; Reason's at distance , and in
prospect lie : That sees immediate good by present sense ; Reason , the future
and the consequence . Thicker than arguments temptations throng , At best more
...
Page 49
Mean - while opinion gilds with varying rays Those painted clouds that beautify
our days ; Each want of happiness by hope supply'd , And each vacuity of sense
by pride : These build as fast as knowledge can destroy ; In folly's cup still laughs
...
Mean - while opinion gilds with varying rays Those painted clouds that beautify
our days ; Each want of happiness by hope supply'd , And each vacuity of sense
by pride : These build as fast as knowledge can destroy ; In folly's cup still laughs
...
Page 114
An adherence or regard to what is , in the sense of the world , a man's own
interest , making an extreme in either vice or virtue almost impossible . Its effect in
keeping a good man from the extreme of virtue , needs no explanation ; and in an
ill ...
An adherence or regard to what is , in the sense of the world , a man's own
interest , making an extreme in either vice or virtue almost impossible . Its effect in
keeping a good man from the extreme of virtue , needs no explanation ; and in an
ill ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
alike angels appear ARGUMENT bear beast began blessing blest blind bliss body bounds breath cause common creature death depends direction draws earth EPISTLE equal Essay ev'ry evil extreme faith fall fear feel follow fool forms future gain gives gods grows hand happiness heart heav'n hope human individual instinct judge kind kings knowledge Learn less light lives Look Lord man's mankind means mind moral nature nature's never o'er pain passions peace perfect pleasure poet pow'r present pride principle proper Providence reason rest rise ruling Self-love sense serves shew social soul spirit spread strength strong superior taught teach tell thee things thinks thou thought thro true truth turns universal vice virtue weak whole wise
Popular passages
Page 32 - KNOW then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side, With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride, He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest; In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little, or too much...
Page 100 - 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.
Page 28 - Cease then, nor order imperfection name; Our proper bliss depends on what we blame. Know thy own point: this kind this due degree Of blindness, weakness, Heav'n bestows on thee. Submit. — In this, or any other sphere, Secure to be as blest as thou canst bear: Safe in the hand of one disposing Power, Or in the natal, or the mortal hour.
Page 71 - 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...
Page 35 - Two Principles in human nature reign; Self-love, to urge, and Reason, to restrain; Nor this a good, nor that a bad we call, Each works its end, to move or govern all: And to their proper operation still, Ascribe all Good; to their improper, 111.
Page 74 - Ask of the Learn'd the way? The Learn'd are blind; This bids to serve, and that to shun mankind; "° Some place the bliss in action, some in ease, Those call it Pleasure, and Contentment these...
Page 78 - Know, all the good that individuals find, Or God and nature meant to mere mankind, 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.
Page 108 - Were there all harmony, all virtue here; That never air or ocean felt the wind; That never passion discompos'd the mind.
Page 96 - God loves from whole to parts : but human soul Must rise from individual to the whole. Self-love but serves the virtuous mind to wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake ; The centre mov'd, a circle straight succeeds, Another still, and still another spreads ; Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace ; His country next, and next all human race ; Wide and more wide, th...
Page 76 - Obvious her goods, in no extreme they dwell ; There needs but thinking right and meaning well ; And mourn our various portions as we please, Equal is common sense and common ease. Remember man, " the Universal Cause Acts not by partial but by general laws," And makes what happiness we justly call Subsist not in the good of one, but all.
Bibliographic information
| Title | An essay on man. Cornish ed |
| Author | Alexander Pope |
| Published | 1798 |
| Original from | Oxford University |
| Digitized | 18 Jun 2007 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |