John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
3378 Aaron Hill 1685-1750 John Bartlett
NUMBER: | 3378 |
AUTHOR: | Aaron Hill (1685–1750) |
QUOTATION: | Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains. ’T is the same with common natures: Use ’em kindly, they rebel; But be rough as nutmeg-graters, And the rogues obey you well. |
ATTRIBUTION: | Verses written on a window in Scotland. |