John Dryden Quotes

But far more numerous was the herd of such,Who think too little, and who talk too much.

~ John Dryden

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; He who would search for pearls, must dive below.

~ John Dryden

Welcome, thou kind deceiver!Thou best of thieves: who, with an easy key,Dost open life, and, unperceived by us,Even steal us from ourselves.

~ John Dryden

For you may palm upon us new for old:All, as they say, that glitters, is not gold.

~ John Dryden

Such subtle covenants shall be made, Till peace itself is war in masquerade.

~ John Dryden

We first make our habits, then our habits make us.

~ John Dryden

If others in the same Glass better see 'Tis for Themselves they look, but not for me: For my Salvation must its Doom receive Not from what others, but what I believe.

~ John Dryden

Thus like a Captive in an Isle confin'd,Man walks at large, a Pris'ner of the Mind

~ John Dryden

When I consider life, 't is all a cheat.Yet fool'd with hope, men favour the deceit;Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay.To-morrow 's falser than the former day;Lies worse, and while it says we shall be blestWith some new joys, cuts off what we possest.Strange cozenage! none would live past years again,Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain;And from the dregs of life think to receiveWhat the first sprightly running could not give.

~ John Dryden

Whatever is, is in its causes just;But purblind manSees but a part o' th' chain; the nearest link;His eyes not carrying to that equal beamThat poises all above.

~ John Dryden

Tis Fate that flings the dice,And as she flingsOf kings makes peasants,And of peasants kings.

~ John Dryden

All things are subject to decay and when fate summons, monarchs must obey.

~ John Dryden

When I consider Life, 'tis all a cheat;Yet, fooled with hope, men favour the deceit;Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay:To-morrow's falser than the former day;Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blestWith some new joys, cuts off what we possesst.

~ John Dryden

Whence but from heaven, could men unskilled in arts,In several ages born, in several parts,Weave such agreeing truths? Or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?

~ John Dryden

Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought,Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught.The wise, for cure, on exercise depend;God never made his work for man to mend.

~ John Dryden

Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,Beware the Fury of a Patient Man.

~ John Dryden

Beware the fury of a patient man.

~ John Dryden

Great wits are to madness near alliedAnd thin partitions do their bounds divide.

~ John Dryden

Farewell, ungrateful traitor, Farewell, my perjured swain;Let never injured creature Believe a man again.The pleasure of possessingSurpasses all expressing,But 'tis too short a blessing, And love too long a pain.'Tis easy to deceive us In pity of your pain;But when we love you leave us To rail at you in vain.Before we have descried itThere is no bliss beside it,But she that once has tried it Will never love again.The passion we pretended Was only to obtain,But when the charm is ended The charmer you disdain.Your love by ours we measureTill we have lost our treasure,But dying is a pleasure When living is a pain.

~ John Dryden

Those who write ill, and they who ne'er durst write,Turn critics out of mere revenge and spite.

~ John Dryden

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

Only man clogs his happiness with care destroying what is with thoughts of what may be.

~ John Dryden

Fight on my merry men all I'm a little wounded but I am not slain I will lay me down for to bleed a while Then I'll rise and fight with you again.

~ John Dryden

All human things are subject to decay And when fate summons monarchs must obey.

~ John Dryden

Every inch that is not fool is rogue.

~ John Dryden

Friendship of itself a holy tie is made more sacred by adversity.

~ John Dryden

I'm a little wounded but I am not slain I will lay me down to bleed a while. Then I'll rise and fight again.

~ John Dryden

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

~ John Dryden

Repentance is but want of power to sin.

~ John Dryden

They conquer who believe they can.

~ John Dryden

…So when the last and dreadful hourThis crumbling pageant shall devour,The trumpet shall be heard on high,The dead shall live, the living die,And Music shall untune the sky

~ John Dryden

When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.

~ John Dryden

War is the trade of Kings.

~ John Dryden

But love's a malady without a cure.

~ John Dryden

Love is love's reward.

~ John Dryden

Pains of love be sweeter far than all other pleasures are.

~ John Dryden

Words are but pictures of our thoughts.

~ John Dryden

Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.

~ John Dryden

Reason is a crutch for age, but youth is strong enough to walk alone.

~ John Dryden

Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is with thoughts of what may be.

~ John Dryden