Quote#World
Ninety-nine men in a hundred are natural men, that is, beasts of…
Quote byCoventry Patmore · 1823–1896
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Rod, the Root, and the Flower (1895), Magna Moralia XXIV, p. 174..
English (original)
Ninety-nine men in a hundred are natural men, that is, beasts of prey; and it is mere insanity, in business matters, to deal with a stranger upon any other assumption than that he is a natural man, though we should veil our knowledge of the actual fact by a courteous recognition in words and manners of his better possibilities.
— Coventry Patmore
More from Coventry Patmore
Kind souls, you wonder why, love you, When you, you wonder why, love none. We love, Fool, for the good we do, Not that which unto us is done!
How amiable and innocent Her pleasure in her power to charm!
Grant me the power of saying things Too simple and too sweet for words!
Strong passions mean weak will, and he Who truly knows the strength and bliss Which are in love, will own with me No passion but a virtue 'tis.
Ah, wasteful woman, she who may On her sweet self set her own price, Knowing man cannot choose but pay, How has she cheapen'd paradise; How given for nought her priceless gift, How spoil'd the bread and spill'd the wine,
Love wakes men, once a lifetime each; They lift their heavy lids, and look; And, lo, what one sweet page can teach, They read with joy, then shut the book.