Category: English

The intro of Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man, addressed to Lord Henry St. John Bolingbroke

“Far as creation’s ample range extends, the scale of sensual, mental powers ascends…”

Say, first, of God above, or man below, what can we reason but from what we know?

“Cease then, nor Order imperfection name: our proper bliss depends on what we blame…”

“Presumptuous man! the reason wouldst thou find, why form’d so weak, so little, and so blind?”

“Heav’n from all creatures hides the book of Fate, all but the page prescribed …”

“Go, wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense weigh thy opinion against Providence…”