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

John Dryden

Present joys are more to flesh and blood Than a dull prospect of a distant good.
JOHN DRYDEN

Distance Flesh Goodness Present
A man is to be cheated into passion, but to be reasoned into truth.
JOHN DRYDEN

Cheating Man Passion Reason Truth
Few know the use of life before ’tis past.
JOHN DRYDEN

Life Past
He who would pry behind the scenes oft sees a counterfeit.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Scene
Nothing to build, and all things to destroy.
JOHN DRYDEN

Build Destroy
Boldness is a mask for fear, however great.
JOHN DRYDEN

Bold Fear Greatness Mask
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
Love is a passion Which kindles honor into noble acts.
JOHN DRYDEN

Act Honor Love Passion
Youth should watch joys and shoot them as they fly.
JOHN DRYDEN

Fly Joy Youth
He invades authors like a monarch; and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him.
JOHN DRYDEN

Author Himself Poet Theft Victory
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

Day Eyes Round Shade Sight Soul
Affability, mildness, tenderness, and a word which I would fain bring back to its original signification of virtue,–I mean good-nature,–are of daily use; they are the bread of mankind and staff of life.
JOHN DRYDEN

Life Man Origin Virtue Word
Hushed as midnight silence.
JOHN DRYDEN

One Liner Silence
All delays are dangerous in war.
JOHN DRYDEN

Dangerous Delay War
We by art unteach what Nature taught.
JOHN DRYDEN

Art Nature Teaching
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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