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 DRYDENSince 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.
More John Dryden Quotes
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If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi, ’tis no matter what they think; they are sometimes in the right, sometimes in the wrong; their judgment is a mere lottery.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Virtue in distress, and vice in triumph make atheists of mankind.
JOHN DRYDEN -
While I am compassed round With mirth, my soul lies hid in shades of grief, Whence, like the bird of night, with half-shut eyes, She peeps, and sickens at the sight of day.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Every language is so full of its own proprieties that what is beautiful in one is often barbarous, nay, sometimes nonsense, in another.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow’s falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.
JOHN DRYDEN -
What passion cannot music raise and quell!
JOHN DRYDEN -
Be slow to resolve, but quick in performance.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Presence of mind and courage in distress, Are more than arrives to procure success?
JOHN DRYDEN -
Sweet is pleasure after pain.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Lucky men are favorites of Heaven.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Love is love’s reward.
JOHN DRYDEN -
He look’d in years, yet in his years were seen A youthful vigor, and autumnal green.
JOHN DRYDEN -
What precious drops are those, Which silently each other’s track pursue, Bright as young diamonds in their faint dew?
JOHN DRYDEN -
And write whatever Time shall bring to pass With pens of adamant on plates of brass.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Welcome, thou kind deceiver! Thou best of thieves; who, with an easy key, Dost open life, and, unperceived by us, Even steal us from ourselves.
JOHN DRYDEN