For forms of government let fools contest;

Whate'er is best administer'd is best.

For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight;

His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

In faith and hope the world will disagree,

But all mankind's concern is charity.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): Essay on Man. Epistle iii. Line 303.

The best in this kind are but shadows.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act v. Sc. 1.

Bad in the best, though excellent in neither.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Passionate Pilgrim. iii.

His best companions, innocence and health;

And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): The Deserted Village. Line 61.

The noblest mind the best contentment has.

Edmund Spenser (1553-1599): Faerie Queene. Book i. Canto i. St. 35.

Even in the afternoon of her best days.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 7.

So well to know

Her own, that what she wills to do or say

Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best.

John Milton (1608-1674): Paradise Lost. Book viii. Line 548.

Go, Soul, the body's guest,

Upon a thankless arrant:

Fear not to touch the best,

The truth shall be thy warrant:

Go, since I needs must die,

And give the world the lie.

Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618): The Lie.

Who are a little wise the best fools be.

Dr John Donne (1573-1631): The Triple Fool.

For pointed satire I would Buckhurst choose,

The best good man with the worst-natured muse.

Earl Of Rochester (1647-1680): An allusion to Horace, Satire x. Book i.

Thy purpose firm is equal to the deed:

Who does the best his circumstance allows

Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.

Edward Young (1684-1765): Night thoughts. Night ii. Line 90.

An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 4.

In the days when we went gypsying

A long time ago;

The lads and lassies in their best

Were dress'd from top to toe.

Edwin Ransford: In the Days when we went Gypsying.

The best laid schemes o' mice and men

Gang aft a-gley;

And leave us naught but grief and pain

For promised joy.

Robert Burns (1759-1796): To a Mouse.

They say, best men are moulded out of faults,

And, for the most, become much more the better

For being a little bad.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Measure for Measure. Act v. Sc. 1.

Men of few words are the best men.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 2.

And the best of all ways

To lengthen our days

Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear.

Thomas Moore (1779-1852): The Young May Moon.

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

Lord Byron 1788-1824: Hebrew Melodies. She walks in Beauty.

The best of men

That e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer;

A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit,

The first true gentleman that ever breathed.

Thomas Dekker (1572-1632): The Honest Whore. Part i. Act i. Sc. 12.

The best of what we do and are,

Just God, forgive!

William Wordsworth (1770-1850): Thoughts suggested on the Banks of the Nith.

For love deceives the best of womankind.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): The Odyssey of Homer. Book xv. Line 463.

It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour.

Beaumont And Fletcher: A King and No King. Act iv. Sc. 3.

Past and to come seems best; things present worst.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part II. Act i. Sc. 3.

That best portion of a good man's life,—

His little, nameless, unremembered acts

Of kindness and of love.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850): Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey.

He prayeth best who loveth best

All things both great and small.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834): The Ancient Mariner. Part vii.

Second thoughts, they say, are best.

John Dryden (1631-1701): The Spanish Friar. Act ii. Sc. 2.

Stolen sweets are best.

Colley Cibber (1671-1757): The Rival Fools. Act i.

Thy purpose firm is equal to the deed:

Who does the best his circumstance allows

Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.

Edward Young (1684-1765): Night thoughts. Night ii. Line 90.

He serves me most who serves his country best.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): The Iliad of Homer. Book x. Line 201.

The kindest man,

The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit

In doing courtesies.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.