George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne

"Happy the man, of mortals happiest he, Whose quiet mind from vain desires is free; Whom neither hopes deceive, nor fears torment, But lives at peace, within himself content; In thought, or act, accountable to none But to himself, and to the gods alone."

"Whoe'er thou art, thy Lord and master see, Thou wast my Slave, thou art, or thou shalt be."

"['T]is the talk, and not the intrigue, that's the crime."

"Mankind, from Adam, have been women's fools; Women, from Eve, have been the devil's tools: Heaven might have spar'd one torment when we fell; Not left us woman, or not threatened hell."

"Cowards in scarlet pass for men of war."

"A villain, when he seems most kind, Is most to be suspected."

"Oh my lov'd friend! till now I never knew The pangs of parting friendship. At distance I have tasted of the pain, When the rude morn has sundered us away, To our repose: but by my soul, I swear Even then my eyes would drop a silent tear, Repugnant still to close, and shut out thee."

"So many shapes have women for deceit, That every man's a fool, when we think fit."

"Patience is the virtue of a beast That trots beneath his burden and is quiet."

"Oh love! thou bane of the most generous souls! Thou doubtful pleasure! and thou certain pain!"

"Go then, Patroclus, where thy glory calls."

"No vengeance like a woman's."

"The kiss you take, is paid by that you give: The joy is mutual, and I'm still in debt."

"Fate holds the strings, and men like children move But as they're led: success is from above."

"She will, and she will not, she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies."

"Providence, not niggardly, but wise, Here lavishly bestows, and there denies, That by each other's virtues we may rise."

"You'd see, cou'd you her inward motions watch, Feigning delay, she wishes for dispatch; Into a woman's meaning wou'd you look, Then read her backward."

"Love is a plant of the most tender kind, That shrinks and shakes with ev'ry ruffling wind."

"Love is a subject to himself alone, And knows no other empire than his own."

"Shall Nature, erring from her first command, Self-preservation, fall by her own hand?"

"Who to a woman trusts his peace of mind, Trusts a frail bark, with a tempestuous wind."

"Of all pains, the greatest pain Is to love, and love in vain."

"Marriage the happiest bond of love might be, If hands were only join'd when hearts agree."

"Our present joy is sweeter by past pain, To love and heav'n, by suff'ring we attain."

"So sang the syrens, with enchanting sound, Enticing all to listen and be drown'd."

"Scarce hadst thou time t'unsheath thy conqu'ring blade; It did but glitter, and the rebels fled."

"Beauty by no complexion is defin'd, Is of all colours, and to none confin'd."

"But ah! what mighty magick can assuage A woman's envy, and a bigot's rage?"

"The sun is set—but see in bright array What hosts of heav'nly light recruit the day! Love in a shining galaxy appears Triumphant still."

"But ah! in vain from Fate we fly! For, first and last, as all must die, So 'tis as much decreed above, That, first or last, we all must love."

"Nature indulgent, provident, and kind, In all things that excell some use design'd; The radiant sun […] Sends from above ten thousand blessings down, Nor is he set so high for show alone; His beams, reviving with auspicious fire, Freely we all enjoy what all admire. The moon and stars, those faithful guides of night, Are plac'd to help, not entertain, the sight. Plants, fruits, and flow'rs, the fertile fields produce, Not for vain ornament, but wholesome use; Health they restore, and nourishment they give, We see with pleasure, but we taste to live."

"'Tis impious pleasure to delight in harm. And beauty shou'd be kind, as well as charm."

"Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade, Then let example be obey'd."

"I'll be this abject thing no more, Love, give me back my heart again."

"Thy thoughts to nobler meditations give, And study how to die, not how to live."

"The great, the vile, the coward, and the brave, Are food alike for worms, companions in the grave. The prince and parasite together lye, No fortune can exalt, but Death will climb as high."

"In vain we plant, we build, our stores increase, If conscience roots up all our inward peace."

"In quiet shades, content with rural sports, Give me a life, remote from guilty courts, Where free from hopes, or fears, in humble ease, Unheard of I may live, and die in peace."

"Youth is the proper time for love, And age is virtue's season."

"The liberal are secure alone, For what we frankly give, for ever is our own."

"But tho' we fetch from Italy and France Our fopperies of tune, and mode of dance, Our sturdy Britons scorn to borrow sense."

"There is no vulture like despair."

"There is no heav'n like mutual love."

"Important truths still let your fable hold, And moral mysteries with art unfold."

"Bright as the day, and like the morning, fair, Such Cloe is—and common as the air."