What bosom beast not in his country's cause?

Whatever is, is right.

There is nothing that is meritorious but virtue and friendship.

So vast is art, so narrow human wit.

The ruling passion, be it what it will. The ruling passion conquers reason still.

Let sinful bachelors their woes deplore; full well they merit all they feel, and more: unaw by precepts, human or divine, like birds and beasts, promiscuously they join.

There should be, methinks, as little merit in loving a woman for her beauty as in loving a man for his prosperity; both being equally subject to change.