An Essay on Criticism Quotes

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“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, An Essay on Criticism

“Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Our judgments, like our watches, none
go just alike, yet each believes his own”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“True Wit is Nature to advantage dress'd
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well express'd;
Something whose truth convinced at sight we find,
That gives us back the image of our mind.
As shades more sweetly recommend the light,
So modest plainness sets off sprightly wit.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Music resembles poetry, in each
Are nameless graces which no methods teach,
And which a master hand alone can reach.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Men must be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown propos'd as things forgot.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“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, An Essay on Criticism

“Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see,
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be,
In every work regard the writer's end,
Since none can compass more than they intend;
And if the means be just, the conduct true,
Applause, in spite of trivial faults, is due.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true,
But are not critics to their judgment, too?”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“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, An Essay on Criticism

“So pleas'd at first the tow'ring Alps we try,
Mount o'er the vales, and seem to tread the sky;
Th'eternal snows appear already past,
And the first clouds and mountains seem the last:
But those attain'd, we tremble to survey
The growing labours of the lengthen'd way;
Th'increasing prospect tires our wand'ring eyes,
Hills peep o'er hills, and Alps on Alps arise!”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Averse alike to flatter, or offend;
Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.
False Eloquence, like the Prismatic Glass,
Its gawdy Colours spreads on ev’ry place;
The Face of Nature was no more Survey,
All glares alike, without Distinction gay:
But true Expression, like th’ unchanging Sun,
Clears, and improves whate’er it shines upon,
It gilds all Objects, but it alters none.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism

“Errare è umano, perdonare divino.”
― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism