“The moving hand once having writ moves on. Nor all thy piety nor wit can lure it back to cancel half a line.”

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

“Tis all a Chequer-board of nights and daysWhere Destiny with men for Pieces plays:Hither and thither moves, and mates,and slays, And one by one back in the closet lays.”

“Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare; To-morrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.”

“And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky,Whereunder crawling coop't we live and die, Lift not thy hands to it for help -- for ItRolls impotently on as Thou or I.”

“Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit Of This and That endeavor and dispute; Better be merry with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, fruit.”

“Some for the Glories of This World; and some Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come; Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!”