Samuel Butler ( 10 of 155 )
God cannot alter the past, though historians can.
God cannot alter the past, though historians can.
Success, the mark no mortal wit,
Or surest hand, can always hit:
For whatsoe'er we perpetrate,
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Success, the mark no mortal wit,
Or surest hand, can always hit:
For whatsoe'er we perpetrate,
We do but row, we're steer'd by Fate,
Which in success oft disinherits,
For spurious causes, noblest merits.
The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may -make a fool of yourself with him and not only read more
The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may -make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.
Some have been beaten till they know
What wood a cudgel's of by th' blow:
Some kick'd read more
Some have been beaten till they know
What wood a cudgel's of by th' blow:
Some kick'd until they can feel whether
A shoe be Spanish or neat's leather.
Ay me! what perils do environ
The man that meddles with cold iron!
Ay me! what perils do environ
The man that meddles with cold iron!
In mathematics he was greater
Than Tycho Brahe, or Erra Pater;
For he, by geometric scale,
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In mathematics he was greater
Than Tycho Brahe, or Erra Pater;
For he, by geometric scale,
Could take the size of pots of ale.
Though wisdom cannot be gotten with gold, still less can it be gotten without it.
Though wisdom cannot be gotten with gold, still less can it be gotten without it.
For brevity is very good,
Where we are, or are not understood.
For brevity is very good,
Where we are, or are not understood.
For discords make the sweetest airs.
For discords make the sweetest airs.
The trenchant blade Toledo trusty.
For want of fighting was grown rusty,
And ate into itself for read more
The trenchant blade Toledo trusty.
For want of fighting was grown rusty,
And ate into itself for lack
Of somebody to hew and hack.
