Samuel Butler

For blocks are better cleft with wedges,
Tan tools of sharp or subtle edges,
And dullest nonsense read more

For blocks are better cleft with wedges,
Tan tools of sharp or subtle edges,
And dullest nonsense has been found
By some to be the most profound.

Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.

Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.

We grant, although he had much wit,
H' was very shy of using it,
As being loth read more

We grant, although he had much wit,
H' was very shy of using it,
As being loth to wear it out,
And therefore bore it not about;
Unless on holy days or so,
As men their best apparel do.

He made an instrument to know
If the moon shine at full or no;
That would, as read more

He made an instrument to know
If the moon shine at full or no;
That would, as soon as e'er she shone straight,
Whether 'twere day or night demonstrate;
Tell what her d'ameter to an inch is,
And prove that she's not made of green cheese.

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
read more

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
They shall be suffer'd to espouse.