The amiable dunce. 221

-Clifford, Clark M(cAdams)
Of Ronald Reagan. Quoted in Haynes  Johnson Sleep-Walking Through History (1991).

How much a dunce that has been sent to roam Excels a dunce that has been kept at home.

-Cowper,William
  Poems,'The Progress of Error', l.415^6.

Why, that is, because, dearest, you're a dunce.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson
  To Lady Corke, who had said that she was affected by Sterne's writings. Quoted in  James Boswell  The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), vol.4.

Books and the Man I sing, the first who brings The Smithfield Muses to the Ear of Kings. Say great Patricians! (since your selves inspire These wond'rous works; so Jove and Fate require) Say from what cause, in vain decry'd and curst, Still Dunce the second reigns like Dunce the first?

-Pope, Alexander
  The Dunciad, bk.1, l.1^6.

A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.

-Pope, Alexander
  The Dunciad, bk.4, l.90.