Careful Words

maintain (v.)

The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): The Deserted Village. Line 232.

What constitutes a state?

 .   .   .   .   .   .   .

Men who their duties know,

But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain.

 .   .   .   .   .   .   .

And sovereign law, that state's collected will,

O'er thrones and globes elate,

Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.

Sir William Jones (1746-1794): Ode in Imitation of Alcaeus.