Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Evils
Hoping, for my excuse, ’twill be confest,
That of two evils I have chose the least.
Prior.—To Mr. Harley.
Of two evils the less is always to be chosen.
Thomas à Kempis.—Book III. Chap. XII. Div. 2.
A change of evils is thy good supreme;
Nor, but in motion, canst thou find thy rest.
Dr. Young.—Night VIII. Line 920.
’Twas always held, and ever will,
By sage mankind, discreeter,
To anticipate a lesser ill
Than undergo a greater.
Shenstone.—To the Memory of an Agreeable Lady, Vol. I.