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.

George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne (9 March 1666 – 29 January 1735) was an English poet, playwright, and politician who served as a Privy Counsellor from 1712.

Quotes

• Of all pains, the greatest pain
  Is to love, and love in vain.
  • The British Enchanters (1705), Act III, scene iii.

• Thy thoughts to nobler meditations give,
  And study how to die, not how to live.
  • Meditations on Death, Stanza 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 504.

• 'Tis impious pleasure to delight in harm.
  And beauty should be kind, as well as charm.
  • To Myra, line 21; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Beauty", p. 57-63.

• 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.
  • To Myra; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Example", p. 242-43.

• 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 women, or not threatened hell.
  • She-Gallants; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Women", p. 886-97.

• 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.
  • Epistle to Mrs. Higgons (1690), line 79; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Contentment", p. 133-36.

• But, oh! what mighty magician can assuage
  A woman's envy?
  • Progress of Beauty; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Envy", p. 226-27.

• The kiss you take is paid by that you give:
  The joy is mutual, and I'm still in debt.
  • Heroic Love, Act V, scene 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Kissing", p. 416-19.

• Whoe'er thou art, thy Lord and master see,
  Thou wast my Slave, thou art, or thou shalt be.
  • Inscription for a Figure representing the God of Love. See Genuine Works. (1732) I. 129. Version of a Greek couplet from the Greek Anthology.

External links