When I behold what pleasure is Pursuit,
What life, what glorious eagerness it is,
Then mark how full Possession falls from this,
How fairer seems the blossom than the fruit,--
I am perplext, and often stricken mute.
Wondering which attained the higher bliss,
The wing'd insect, or the chrysalis
It thrust aside with unreluctant foot.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
Indeed, whenever a new idea is developed, as for example ballooning, warfare immediately takes possession.rn
Indeed, whenever a new idea is developed, as for example ballooning, warfare immediately takes possession.rn
Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession,
many.
Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession,
many.
Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
read more
Ah, yet, e'er I descend to th' grave,
May I a small House and a large Garden have.
And a few Friends, and many Books both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too.
And since Love ne'er will from me flee,
A mistress moderately fair,
And good as Guardian angels are,
Only belov'd and loving me.
Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
read more
Britannia needs no bulwarks
No towers along the steep;
Her march is o'er the mountain wave,
Her home is on the deep.
What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.
[Lat., Male parta, male dilabuntur.]
What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.
[Lat., Male parta, male dilabuntur.]
Of a rich man who was mean and niggardly, he said, "That man does
not possess his estate, but read more
Of a rich man who was mean and niggardly, he said, "That man does
not possess his estate, but his estate possesses him."
The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of read more
The English, a spirited nation, claim the empire of the sea; the
French, a calmer nation, claim that of the air.
[Fr., Les Anglais, nation trop fiere
S'arrogent l'empire des mers;
Les Francais, nation legere,
S'emparent de celui des airs.]
This is the truth as I see it, my dear,
Out in the wind and the rain:
read more
This is the truth as I see it, my dear,
Out in the wind and the rain:
They who have nothing have little to fear,
Nothing to lose or to gain.
For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was read more
For what one has in black and white,
One can carry home in comfort.
[Ger., Denn was man schwarz auf weiss besitzt,
Kann man getrost nach Hause tragen.]
