“Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune, / He had not the method of making a fortune.”

— Thomas Gray, On His Own Character (1761)

About Thomas Gray

1716 – 1771

English poet, author of "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard".

“The still small voice of gratitude.”

“Alas, regardless of their doom, / The little victims play!”

“Yet ah! why should they know their fate?”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”

“Prosperity is the best protector of principle.”

“Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us.”

“The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.”

“The long, dull monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather.”

“In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.”