True wit is Nature to advantage dressed,
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.
Alexander Pope - An Essay on Criticism.
Now go read this post over at Little Tiny Lies. I have often had similar thoughts about these weak links, but Steve expresses it like I wish I could.
Posted by Cathy at September 19, 2003 11:29 PMAny recommended works by Pope? Outside of a random quote or two, I have no familiarity with his writings.
Posted by: aelfheld at September 20, 2003 08:12 PMThe only Pope work I've really enjoyed in "An Essay on Criticism." I think most of his more recognizable quotes probably come from here. ('A little learning is a dangerous thing...')
"The Rape of the Lock" may be a more recognizable title - it pops up in college literature courses all the time. I found it difficult to keep with it. What Pope says in five cantos, Shakespeare could have nailed with one good sonnet.
I think the Essay on Criticism was my favorite because the first eight lines completely captured how I felt about my creative writing professor:
"'Tis hard to say, if greater want of skill
Appear in writing or in judging ill;
But of the two less dangerous is the offense
To tire our patience than mislead our sense.
Some few in that, but numbers err in this,
Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss;
A fool might once himself alone expose,
Now one in verse makes many more in prose."
I wrote that on the bottom of the last piece of work I handed in to this detested professor. She had a few criticims of my work and Pope when I got the paper back. :)
Posted by: Cathy at September 20, 2003 09:28 PMCan't imagine why. ;-)
Posted by: aelfheld at September 21, 2003 12:21 PM