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 DRYDENSatire among the Romans, but not among the Greeks, was a bitter invective poem.
More John Dryden Quotes
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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 -
What, start at this! when sixty years have spread. Their grey experience o’er thy hoary head? Is this the all observing age could gain? Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
JOHN DRYDEN -
And that the Scriptures, though not everywhere Free from corruption, or entire, or clear, Are uncorrupt, sufficient, clear, entire In all things which our needful faith require.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Silence in times of suffering is the best.
JOHN DRYDEN -
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 -
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 -
Sweet is pleasure after pain.
JOHN DRYDEN -
All things are subject to decay and when fate summons, monarchs must obey.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Pains of love be sweeter far than all other pleasures are.
JOHN DRYDEN -
No king nor nation one moment can retard the appointed hour.
JOHN DRYDEN -
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 -
The conscience of a people is their power.
JOHN DRYDEN -
Old as I am, for ladies’ love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet.
JOHN DRYDEN -
It is a madness to make fortune the mistress of events, because in herself she is nothing, can rule nothing, but is ruled by prudence.
JOHN DRYDEN