Society and the World

Of all the tyrannies on human kind The worst is that which persecutes the mind.

Of all the tyrannies on human kind The worst is that which persecutes the mind.

The trumpet’s loud clangor Excites us to arms.

For every inch that is not fool is rogue.

Nor is the people’s judgment always true: The most may err as grossly as the few.

So over violent, or over civil, That every man with him was God or Devil.

Better one suffer, than a nation grieve.

All empire is no more than power in trust.

In friendship false, implacable in hate, Resolved to ruin or to rule the state.

And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeather’d two-legg’d thing, a son.

Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease.

In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sin.

In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sin.

Your Cleopatra; Dolabella’s Cleopatra; every man’s Cleopatra.

The wretched have no friends.

I am as free as Nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran.

God the first garden made, and the first city.

Well then; I now do plainly see This busy world and I shall ne’er agree; The very honey of all earthly joy Does of all meats the soonest cloy, And they (methinks) deserve my pity, Who for it can endure the stings, The crowd, and buzz and murmurings, Of this great hive, the city.

He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still.

What makes all doctrines plain and clear? About two hundred pounds a year. And that which was proved true before, Prove false again? Two hundred more.

He that imposes an oath makes it, Not he that for convenience takes it; Then how can any man be said To break an oath he never made?

As the ancients Say wisely, have a care o’ th’ main chance, And look before you ere you leap; For as you sow, ye are like to reap.

Oaths are but words, and words but wind.

Cleric before, and Lay behind; A lawless linsey-woolsey brother, Half of one order, half another.