John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester - Man Quotes

7 Sourced Quotes

View all John Wilmot Quotes

But a meek humble Man of modest Sense,
Who, Preaching Peace, does practice Continence;
Whose pious life's a proof he does believe,
Mysterious Truths, which no Man can conceive.
If upon Earth there dwell such God-like Men,
I'll here Recant my Paradox to them;
Adore those Shrines of Virtue, homage pay,
And, with the rabble world, their Laws obey.
If such there are, yet grant me This at least,
Man differs more from Man, than Man from Beast.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

Here lies our sovereign lord the king,
Whose word no man relies on;
He never says a foolish thing,
Nor ever does a wise one.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

For pointed satire I would Buckhurst choose,
The best good man with the worst-natured muse.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

The Elephant is never won with Anger,
Nor must that man, who would reclaim a Lion,
Take him by the teeth.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

Were I, who to my Cost already am
One of those strange, prodigious Creatures Man,
A Spirit free, to choose for my own Share,
What sort of Flesh and Blood I pleas'd to wear,
I'd be a Dog, a Monkey, or a Bear,
Or any thing, but that vain Animal,
Who is so proud of being Rational.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

It is a good world to live in,
To lend, or to spend, or to give in;
But to beg or to borrow, or to get a man's own,
It is the very worst world that ever was known.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

To pick out the wildest and most fantastical odd man alive, and to place your kindness there, is an act so brave and daring as will show the greatness of your spirit and distinguish you in love, as you are in all things else, from womankind.

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester