John Dryden Quotes

344 Sourced Quotes

As the true height and bigness of a star Exceeds the measures of th' astronomer.

John Dryden
Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed, Yet, sprung from high, is of celestial seed: In God 'tisglory; and when men aspire, 'Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire.

John Dryden
Ah, how sweet it is to love! Ah, how gay is young Desire! And what pleasing pains we prove When we first approach Love's fire!

John Dryden
None, none descends into himself, to find
The secret imperfections of his mind:
But every one is eagle-ey'd to see
Another's faults, and his deformity.

John Dryden
Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will; and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie than the will can choose an apparent evil.

John Dryden
The first Physicians by Debauch were made: Excess began, and Sloth sustains the Trade.

John Dryden
Virgil is so exact in every word, that none can be changed but for a worse; nor any one removed from its place, but the harmony will be altered. He pretends sometimes to trip; but it is only to make you think him in danger of a fall, when he is most secure.

John Dryden
From plots and treasons Heaven preserve my years, But save me most from my petitioners. Unsatiate as the barren womb or grave; God cannot grant so much as they can crave.

John Dryden
For lawful power is still superior found, When long driven back, at length it stands the ground.

John Dryden
With odorous oil thy head and hair are sleek; And then thou kemb'st the tuzzes on thy cheek: Of these, my barbers take a costly care.

John Dryden
Many things impossible to thought have been by need to full perfection brought.

John Dryden
For granting we have sinned, and that the offence
Of man is made against Omnipotence,
Some price that bears proportion must be paid,
And infinite with infinite be weighed.

John Dryden
May, tho' our atoms should resolve by chance.

John Dryden
Satire among the Romans, but not among the Greeks, was a bitter invective poem.

John Dryden
'Tis a good thing to laugh at any rate; and if a straw can tickle a man, it is an instrument of happiness.

John Dryden
Good sense and good-nature are never separated, though the ignorant world has thought otherwise. Good-nature, by which I mean beneficence and candor, is the product of right reason.

John Dryden
Damn'd neuters, in their middle way of steering, Are neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring.

John Dryden
Jealousy's a proof of love, But 'tis a weak and unavailing medicine; It puts out the disease and makes it show, But has no power to cure.

John Dryden
To die for faction is a common evil, But to be hanged for nonsense is the devil.

John Dryden
Are scatter'd from their heap, and puff'd away.

John Dryden
The Fates but only spin the coarser clue; The finest of the wool is left for you.

John Dryden
Who climbs the grammar-tree, distinctly knows Where noun, and verb, and participle grows.

John Dryden
A coward is the kindest animal;
'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.

John Dryden
Fattened in vice, so callous and so gross, he sins and sees not, senseless of his loss.

John Dryden
As when the dove returning bore the mark Of earth restored to the long labouring ark; The relics of mankind, secure at rest, Oped every window to receive the guest, And the fair bearer of the message bless'd.

John Dryden
To be the child of chance, and not of care, No atoms casually together hurl'd.

John Dryden
So the false spider, when her nets are spread, deep ambushed in her silent den does lie.

John Dryden
And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than by disputes the public peace disturb; For points obscure are of small use to learn, But common quiet is mankind's concern.

John Dryden
My whole life Has been a golden dream of love and friendship.

John Dryden
That, if the Gentiles, (whom no Law inspir'd,)
By Nature did what was by Law requir'd;
They, who the written Rule and never known,
Were to themselves both Rule and Law alone:
To Natures plain Indictment they shall plead;
And, by their Conscience, be condemn'd or freed.

John Dryden