Joseph Addison

Thy father's merit sets thee up to view,
And shows thee in the fairest point of light,
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Thy father's merit sets thee up to view,
And shows thee in the fairest point of light,
To make thy virtues, or thy faults, conspicuous.

There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in read more

There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country.

The man who will live above his present circumstances, is in great danger of soon living beneath them; or as read more

The man who will live above his present circumstances, is in great danger of soon living beneath them; or as the Italian proverb says, "The man that lives by hope, will die by despair.".

Great Pompey's shade complains that we are slow,
And Scipio's ghost walks unavenged amongst us!

Great Pompey's shade complains that we are slow,
And Scipio's ghost walks unavenged amongst us!

When love once pleads admission to our hearts,
(In spite of all the virtue we can boast),
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When love once pleads admission to our hearts,
(In spite of all the virtue we can boast),
The woman that deliberates is lost.