The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still.

Order is Heaven's first law; and this confessed, some are, and must be, greater than the rest, more rich, more wise; but who infers from hence that such are happier, shocks all common sense. Condition, circumstance, is not the thing; bliss is the same in subject or in king.

Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.

Learn to live well, or fairly make your will; you played, and loved, and ate, and drunk your fill: walk sober off; before a sprightlier age comes tittering on, and shoves you from the stage: leave such to trifle with more grace and ease, whom Folly pleases, and whose Follies please.

Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides sense from thought.

Lo! thy dread empire, Chaos! is restored; dies before thy uncreating word: thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall; and universal darkness buries all.

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

Act well your part; there all honor lies.

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense, and love the offender, yet detest the offence?