397. from an Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope
b"EW Wheeler read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\\n\\n--------------------------------------------\\n\\nfrom an Essay on Criticism\\nby Alexander Pope (1688 \\u2013 1744)\\n\\nOf all the causes which conspire to blind \\nMan's erring judgment, and misguide the mind, \\nWhat the weak head with strongest bias rules, \\nIs Pride, the never failing vice of fools. \\nWhatever Nature has in worth denied \\nShe gives in large recruits of needful Pride: \\nFor as in bodies, thus in souls, we find \\nWhat wants in blood and spirits swell'd with wind: \\nPride, where Wit fails, steps in to our deference, \\nAnd fills up all the mighty void of Sense: \\nIf once right Reason drives that cloud away, \\nTruth breaks upon us with resistless day. \\nTrust not yourself; but your defects to know, \\nMake use of ev'ry friend--and ev'ry foe. \\n\\nA little learning is a dangerous thing; \\nDrink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: \\nThere shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, \\nAnd drinking largely sobers us again.\\n\\n\\nFirst aired: 7 January 2009\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009"