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John Dryden Quotes
344 Sourced Quotes
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I am devilishly afraid, that's certain; but... I'll sing, that I may seem valiant.
John Dryden
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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
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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
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My whole life Has been a golden dream of love and friendship.
John Dryden
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Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid As can express my guilt.
John Dryden
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Imagination in a poet is a faculty so wild and lawless that, like a high ranging spaniel, it must have clogs tied to it, lest it outrun the judgment. The great easiness of blank verse renders the poet too luxuriant. He is tempted to say many things which might better be omitted, or, at least shut up in fewer words.
John Dryden
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Since a true knowledge of nature gives us pleasure, a lively imitation of it, either in poetry or painting, must produce a much greater; for both these arts are not only true imitations of nature, but of the best nature.
John Dryden
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At home the hateful names of parties cease, And factious souls are wearied into peace.
John Dryden
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The good we have enjoyed from Heaven's free will, and shall we murmur to endure the ill?
John Dryden
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Science distinguishes a Man of Honour from one of those Athletick Brutes whom undeservedly we call Heroes.
John Dryden
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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
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To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.
John Dryden
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The perverseness of my fate is such that he's not mine because he's mine too much.
John Dryden
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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
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When we view elevated ideas of Nature, the result of that view is admiration, which is always the cause of pleasure.
John Dryden
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They, who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men.
John Dryden
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Pity only on fresh objects stays, but with the tedious sight of woes decays.
John Dryden
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Time and death shall depart and say in flying
Love has found out a way to live, by dying.
John Dryden
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Even kings but play; and when their part is done, some other, worse or better, mounts the throne.
John Dryden
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An hour will come, with pleasure to relate Your sorrows past, as benefits of Fate.
John Dryden
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Some of our philosophizing divines have too much exalted the faculties of our souls, when they have maintained that by their force mankind has been able to find out God.
John Dryden
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Quote of the day
Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.
Dorothy L. Sayers
John Dryden
Creative Commons
Born:
August 9, 1631
Died:
May 1, 1700
(aged 68)
Bio:
John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made Poet Laureate in 1668.
Known for:
Mac Flecknoe
Absalom and Achitophel
Annus Mirabilis
The Hind and the Panther
Religio Laici
Most used words:
man
love
life
soul
nature
kind
time
live
age
day
sense
god
harmony
land
wit
John Dryden on Wikipedia
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