Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure.

Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out. Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure.

Existence is not itself a good thing, that we should spend a lifetime securing its necessaries: a life spent, however victoriously, in securing the necessaries of life is no more than an elaborate furnishing and decoration of apartments for the reception of a guest who is never to come. Our business here is not to live, but to live happily.

Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies, But keep your fancy free.

With rue my heart is laden For golden friends I had, For many a rose-lipped maiden And many a lightfoot lad.

The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can; Not I: let God and man decree Laws for themselves and not for me.

Good religious poetry... is likely to be most justly appreciated and most discriminately relished by the undevout.