Poem for the day

from An Essay on Man

Konw then thyself, presume not d to scan;
The proper study of Mankind is Man.
Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being darkly wise, and rudely great:
With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side,
With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride,
He hands in between; in doubt to act, or rest,
In doubt his Mind or body to prefer,
Born to die, and reas'ning but to err;
Alike in ignorance, his reason such,
Whether he thinks too little, or too much:
Chaos of Thought and Passion, all confus'd;
Still by himself abus'd, or disabus'd;
Created half to rise, and half to fall;
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sold judge of Truth, in endless Error hurl'd:
The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!

Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744)

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