The World Is Governed By

Reason Is The Historian, But Passions Are The Actors.

The Most Civilized People Are As Near To Barbarism As The Most Polished Steel Is To Rust. Nations, Like Metals, Have Only A Superficial Brilliancy.

The Absolute Ruler May Be A Nero, But He Is Sometimes A Titus Or Marc Aurelius; The People Is Often Nero, But Never Marc Aurelius.

Gold Like The Sun, Which Melts Wax, But Hardens Clay, Expands Great Souls.

Very Nice Couplet, Although There Are Dull Stretches.