| KNOW then thyself, presume not God to scan, | |
| The proper study of mankind is man. | |
| Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, | |
| A being darkly wise, and rudely great: | |
| With too much knowledge for the sceptic side, | 5 |
| With too much weakness for the Stoic’s pride, | |
| He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest; | |
| In doubt to deem himself a God, or beast; | |
| In doubt his mind or body to prefer; | |
| Born but to die, and reasoning but to err; | 10 |
| Alike in ignorance, his reason such, | |
| Whether he thinks too little or too much: | |
| Chaos of thought and passion, all confus’d; | |
| Still by himself abused or disabused; | |
| Created half to rise, and half to fall; | 15 |
| Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; | |
| Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurled: | |
| The glory, jest, and riddle of the world! -Alexander Pope (I've never understood humanism better than after reading this) |