Quote#Wisdom
Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toys
Quote byMark Akenside · 1721–1770
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Virtuoso (1737), stanza x, lines 89–90.
English (original)
Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toys, And eagerly pursues imaginary joys.
— Mark Akenside
More from Mark Akenside
The man forget not, though in rags he lies, And know the mortal through a crown's disguise.
Pall on her temper, like a twice-told tale.
Youth calls for Pleasure, Pleasure calls for Love.
O'er yonder eastern hill the twilight pale Walks forth from darkness; and the God of day, With bright Astraea seated by his side, Waits yet to leave the ocean.
Can art, alas! or genius guide the head Where truth and freedom from the heart are fled? Can lesser wheels repeat their native stroke, When the prime function of the soul is broke?
Man loves knowledge, and the beams of truth More welcome touch his understanding's eye Than all the blandishments of sound his ear, Than all of taste his tongue.