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We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.

John Dryden

Imagining is in itself the very height and life of poetry, which, by a kind of enthusiasm or extraordinary emotion of the soul, makes it seem to us that we behold those things which the poet paints.
JOHN DRYDEN

Emotion Enthusiasm Height Imagination Paint Poet Soul
Nor is the people’s judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.
JOHN DRYDEN

Judgment People True
He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.
JOHN DRYDEN

Fear Learning Lesson
For all the happiness mankind can gain Is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain.
JOHN DRYDEN

Happiness Kind Man Sadness
But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little, and who talk too much.
JOHN DRYDEN

Numerous Talk Thinking
We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.
JOHN DRYDEN

Character Habit Inspirational Nature Ourselves
I never saw any good that came of telling truth.
JOHN DRYDEN

Goodness Myself Talk Truth
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Pearl Search
Youth, beauty, graceful action seldom fail: But common interest always will prevail; And pity never ceases to be shown To him who makes the people’s wrongs his own.
JOHN DRYDEN

Action Beautiful Fall Grace Himself People Wrong Youth
More liberty begets desire of more; The hunger still increases with the store.
JOHN DRYDEN

Desire Hungry Liberty Store
If all the world be worth thy winning. / Think, oh think it worth enjoying: / Lovely Thaïs sits beside thee, / Take the good the gods provide thee.
JOHN DRYDEN

God Goodness Love Thinking World
I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran.
JOHN DRYDEN

Freedom Man Nature Run Savage Wild
Railing and praising were his usual themes; and both showed his judgment in extremes. Either over violent or over civil, so everyone to him was either god or devil.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Judgement Praise Theme
Secret guilt is by silence revealed.
JOHN DRYDEN

Guilty Reveal Secret Silence
Confidence is the feeling we have before knowing all the facts.
JOHN DRYDEN

Confidence Fact Known
God never made his work for man to mend.
JOHN DRYDEN

God Man Mend Work

We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.

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We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.

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Popular Authors

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