black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

There’s a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.

John Dryden

Luxurious kings are to their people lost, They live like drones, upon the public cost.
JOHN DRYDEN

Live Lost Luxury People Public
None are so busy as the fool and the knave.
JOHN DRYDEN

Busy Fools
Men are but children of a larger growth, Our appetites as apt to change as theirs, And full as craving too, and full as vain.
JOHN DRYDEN

Children Crave Growth Man
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

Divine Faculty Force God Kind Man Philosophy
Let Fortune empty her whole quiver on me, I have a soul that, like an ample shield, Can take in all, and verge enough for more; Fate was not mine, nor am I Fate’s: Souls know no conquerors.
JOHN DRYDEN

Empty Enough Fortune Myself Soul
Reason is a crutch for age, but youth is strong enough to walk alone.
JOHN DRYDEN

Age Alone Enough Reason Strong Walk Youth
Every age has a kind of universal genius, which inclines those that live in it to some particular studies.
JOHN DRYDEN

Age Genius Kind Live Study Universe
Self-defense is Nature’s eldest law.
JOHN DRYDEN

Defense Law Nature
What precious drops are those, Which silently each other’s track pursue, Bright as young diamonds in their faint dew?
JOHN DRYDEN

Dew Precious Pursue Track Young
And love’s the noblest frailty of the mind.
JOHN DRYDEN

Fragile Love Mindset
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
Good sense and good-nature are never separated, though the ignorant world has thought otherwise. Good-nature, by which I mean beneficence and candor, is the product of right reason.
JOHN DRYDEN

Goodness Ignorance Nature Reason Right World
But when to sin our biased nature leans, The careful Devil is still at hand with means; And providently pimps for ill desires.
JOHN DRYDEN

Desire Hands Nature Sick Sin
For secrets are edged tools, And must be kept from children and from fools.
JOHN DRYDEN

Children Edge Fools Secret Tools
Boldness is a mask for fear, however great.
JOHN DRYDEN

Bold Fear Greatness Mask
No king nor nation one moment can retard the appointed hour.
JOHN DRYDEN

King Mad Moments Nation

There’s a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

There’s a proud modesty in merit; averse from asking, and resolved to pay ten times the gifts it asks.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More John Dryden Quotes