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Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

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

Age Empty Experience Known Start World
If thou dost still retain the same ill habits, the same follies, too, still thou art bound to vice, and still a slave.
JOHN DRYDEN

Bound Habit Slave Vice
They that possess the prince possess the laws.
JOHN DRYDEN

Law Possession Prince
But love’s a malady without a cure.
JOHN DRYDEN

Cure Love
Long pains, with use of bearing, are half eased.
JOHN DRYDEN

Erase Pain
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
Of all the tyrannies on human kind the worst is that which persecutes the mind.
JOHN DRYDEN

Human Kind Mindset Worst
But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little, and who talk too much.
JOHN DRYDEN

Numerous Talk Thinking
Presence of mind and courage in distress, Are more than arrives to procure success?
JOHN DRYDEN

Courage Mindset Presence Success
Since every man who lives is born to die, And none can boast sincere felicity, With equal mind, what happens, let us bear, Nor joy nor grieve too much for things beyond our care. Like pilgrims to the’ appointed place we tend; The world’s an inn, and death the journey’s end.
JOHN DRYDEN

Boast Born Death End Journey Live Man Place Sincere
The sooner you treat your son as a man, the sooner he will be one.
JOHN DRYDEN

Himself Man Son Treat
Set all things in their own peculiar place, and know that order is the greatest grace.
JOHN DRYDEN

Grace Known Order Place
All authors to their own defects are blind.
JOHN DRYDEN

Author Blind Defect
Parting is worse than death; it is death of love!
JOHN DRYDEN

Death Love Part Worst
Love is not in our choice but in our fate.
JOHN DRYDEN

Choice Fate Love
O freedom, first delight of human kind!
JOHN DRYDEN

Delight Freedom Human Kind
And plenty makes us poor.
JOHN DRYDEN

Poor
Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.
JOHN DRYDEN

Alone Day Happiness Live Man Myself Secure Worst
Keen appetite And quick digestion wait on you and yours.
JOHN DRYDEN

Appetite Digestion Quick Yourself
Let grace and goodness be the principal loadstone of thy affections. For love which hath ends, will have an end; whereas that which is founded on true virtue, will always continue.
JOHN DRYDEN

Continue End Goodness Grace Principal Virtue
Words are but pictures of our thoughts.
JOHN DRYDEN

Ourselves Photograph Thinking Word
As one that neither seeks, nor shuns his foe.
JOHN DRYDEN

Enemy One Liner Seek Shine
At home the hateful names of parties cease, And factious souls are wearied into peace.
JOHN DRYDEN

Hate Home Name Peace Soul
The winds are out of breath.
JOHN DRYDEN

Breathe Wind
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
Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way: Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on, And see the dangers that we cannot shun.
JOHN DRYDEN

Beautiful Dangerous Surface Way
Truth is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of all societies.
JOHN DRYDEN

Cement Foundation Knowledge Society Truth

Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

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Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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