Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Right
His faith perhaps, in some nice tenets might
Be wrong; his life, I’m sure, was in the right.
Cowley.—Death of Mr. Crashaw.
For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight;
His can’t be wrong, whose life is in the right.
Pope.—Essay on Man, Epi. III. Line 305.
I see the right, and I approve it too;
Condemn the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue.
Tate.—Ovid Met., Book VII. Verse 20.
Whatever is, is right.
Pope.—Essay on Man, Epi. I. Line 294.
Rest satisfied, that whatever is by the appointment of Heaven is right, is best.
Hervey.—Meditations in a Flower Garden.
[If Mr. Pope understands the maxim according to the limitations suggested above, he speaks an undeniable and glorious truth. But if that great poet includes whatever comes to pass through the wild and extravagant passions of men, surely no thinking person, at least no Christian, can accede to his opinion.—Note by Mr. Hervey.]