Tis a meaner part of sense to find a fault than taste an excellence.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Natural freedoms are but just:
There's something generous in mere lust.
There's something generous in mere lust.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Reason, which fifty times for one does err,
Reason, an ignis fatuus of the mind.
Reason, an ignis fatuus of the mind.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Love, the most generous passion of the mind
The softest refuge innocence can find
The softest refuge innocence can find
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Huddled in dirt the reasoning engine lies,
Who was so proud, so witty and so wise.
Who was so proud, so witty and so wise.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
For all Men would be Cowards if they durst:
And Honesty's against all common Sense.
And Honesty's against all common Sense.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Reason, an Ignis fatuus of the Mind,
Which leaves the light of Nature, Sense, behind.
Which leaves the light of Nature, Sense, behind.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
There's not a thing on earth that I can name,
So foolish, and so false, as common fame.
So foolish, and so false, as common fame.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
For pointed satire I would Buckhurst choose,
The best good man with the worst-natured muse.
The best good man with the worst-natured muse.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
The clog of all pleasure, the luggage of life,
Is the best can be said for a very good wife.
Is the best can be said for a very good wife.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
For Wits are treated just like Common Whores;
First they're enjoy'd, and then kickt out of Doors.
First they're enjoy'd, and then kickt out of Doors.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Love…
That cordial drop heaven in our cup has thrown
To make the nauseous draught of life go down.
That cordial drop heaven in our cup has thrown
To make the nauseous draught of life go down.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
All monarchs I hate, and the thrones they sit on,
From the hector of France to the cully of Britain.
From the hector of France to the cully of Britain.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.
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.
Nor must that man, who would reclaim a Lion,
Take him by the teeth.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
'Is there then no more?'
She cries. 'All this to love and rapture's due;
Must we not pay a debt to pleasure too?'
She cries. 'All this to love and rapture's due;
Must we not pay a debt to pleasure too?'
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Here lies a great and mighty king
Whose promise none relies on;
He never said a foolish thing,
Nor ever did a wise one.
Whose promise none relies on;
He never said a foolish thing,
Nor ever did a wise one.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Farewell, woman! I intend
Henceforth every night to sit
With my lewd, well-natured friend,
Drinking to engender wit.
Henceforth every night to sit
With my lewd, well-natured friend,
Drinking to engender wit.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
But oh, how slowly minutes roll
When absent from her eyes,
That feed my love, which is my soul:
It languishes and dies.
When absent from her eyes,
That feed my love, which is my soul:
It languishes and dies.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
An age in her embraces passed
Would seem a winter's day,
Where life and light with envious haste
Are torn and snatched away.
Would seem a winter's day,
Where life and light with envious haste
Are torn and snatched away.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Love a woman? You're an ass!
'Tis a most insipid passion
To choose out for your happiness
The silliest part of God's creation.
'Tis a most insipid passion
To choose out for your happiness
The silliest part of God's creation.
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.
Whose word no man relies on;
He never says a foolish thing,
Nor ever does a wise one.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Most Men are Cowards, all Men should be Knaves.
The Difference lies, as far as I can see,
Not in the thing it self, but the Degree.
The Difference lies, as far as I can see,
Not in the thing it self, but the Degree.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
Matter, the wickedest offspring of thy race,
By form assisted, flew from thy embrace,
And rebel light obscured thy reverend dusky face.
By form assisted, flew from thy embrace,
And rebel light obscured thy reverend dusky face.
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester