John Dryden Quotes

344 Sourced Quotes

There is an inimitable grace in Virgil's words, and in them principally consists that beauty which gives so inexpressible a pleasure to him who best understands their force. This diction of his, I must once again say, is never to be copied; and since it cannot, he will appear but lame in the best translation.

John Dryden
A lively faith will bear aloft the mind, and leave the luggage of good works behind.

John Dryden
Government itself at length must fall To nature's state, where all have right to all.

John Dryden
Science distinguishes a Man of Honour from one of those Athletick Brutes whom undeservedly we call Heroes.

John Dryden
They, who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men.

John Dryden
When we view elevated ideas of Nature, the result of that view is admiration, which is always the cause of pleasure.

John Dryden
Be juster, Heaven: such virtue punished thus, Will make us think that Chance rules all above, And shuffles, with a random hand, the Lots Which Man is forc'd to draw.

John Dryden
The perverseness of my fate is such that he's not mine because he's mine too much.

John Dryden
Inspire the Vocal Brass, Inspire;
The World is past its Infant Age:
Arms and Honour,
Arms and Honour,
Set the Martial Mind on Fire,
And kindle Manly Rage.

John Dryden
What I have left is from my native spring; I've still a heart that swells, in scorn of fate, And lifts me to my banks.

John Dryden
Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when fortune owns the cause.

John Dryden
Sure there is none but fears a future state;
And when the most obdurate swear they do not,
Their trembling hearts belie their boasting tongues.

John Dryden
To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.

John Dryden
Shakespeare was the Homer, or father of our dramatic poets;Jonson was theVirgil, the pattern of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I love Shakespeare.

John Dryden