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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

David Everett 1769-1813 John Bartlett

 
1
    You ’d scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage;
And if I chance to fall below
Demosthenes or Cicero,
Don’t view me with a critic’s eye,
But pass my imperfections by.
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little acorns grow. 1
          Lines written for a School Declamation.
 
Note 1.
The lofty oak from a small acorn grows.—Lewis Duncombe (1711–1730): De Minimus Maxima (translation). [back]