Famous John Dryden Quotations

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"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us."
by John Dryden
"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."
by John Dryden
"Nature meant me a wife, a silly harmless household Dove, fond without art; and kind without deceit."
by John Dryden
"Beware the fury of a patient man."
by John Dryden
"A mob is the scum that rises upmost when the nation boils."
by John Dryden
"All human things are subject to decay,And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obeyThis Flecknoe found, who like Augustus youngWas call'd to empire, and had govern'd longIn prose and verse, was own'd, without disputeThrough all the realms of nonsense, absolute."
by John Dryden
"And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm."
by John Dryden
"Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare."
by John Dryden
"Beware of the fury of the patient man."
by John Dryden
"But far more numerous was the herd of such,
Who think too little and who talk too much."
by John Dryden
"But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little and who talk too much."
by John Dryden
"Death in itself is nothing but we fear To be we know not what, we know not where."
by John Dryden
"Dreams are but interludes that fancy makes...
Sometimes forgotten things, long cast behind
Rush forward in the brain, and come to mind."
by John Dryden
"Fortune, that with malicious joyDoes man her slave oppress,Proud of her office to destroy,Is seldom pleasd to bless."
by John Dryden
"Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He, who can call to-day his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
To-morrow do thy worst, for I have lived today."
by John Dryden
"Happy the man, and happy he alone, He, who can call to-day his own He who, secure within, can say, To-morrow do thy worst, for I have lived today."
by John Dryden
"How can finite grasp infinity"
by John Dryden
"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."
by John Dryden
"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."
by John Dryden
"Look around the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or knowing it, pursue."
by John Dryden
"None are so busy as the fool and knave."
by John Dryden
"Pains of love be sweeter far Than all other pleasures are."
by John Dryden
"Reason to rule but mercy to forgive The first is the law, the last prerogative."
by John Dryden
"Set all things in their own peculiar place, and know that order is the greatest grace."
by John Dryden
"Such subtle Covenants shall be made,Till Peace it self is War in Masquerade."
by John Dryden
"The conscience of a people is their power."
by John Dryden
"The gates of Hell are open night and day Smooth the descent, and easy is the way But, to return, and view the cheerful skies In this, the task and mighty labor lies."
by John Dryden
"The people have a right supremeTo make their kings, for Kings are made for them.All Empire is no more than Pow'r in Trust,Which when resum'd, can be no longer just.Successionm for the general good design'd,In its own wrong a Nation cannot bind."
by John Dryden
"They think to little who talk to much."
by John Dryden
"Tomorrow, do thy worst, for I have lived today."
by John Dryden
"We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure."
by John Dryden
"You see through love, and that deludes your sight, As what is straight seems crooked through the water."
by John Dryden
"Fortune befriends the bold."
by John Dryden
"Look around the inhabited world; how few know their own good, or knowing it, pursue."
by John Dryden
"For all have not the gift of martyrdom."
by John Dryden
"For they conquer who believe they can."
by John Dryden
"Successful crimes alone are justified."
by John Dryden
"To die is landing on some distant shore."
by John Dryden
"He was exhaled; his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew."
by John Dryden
"Like pilgrims to the appointed place we tend; The world's an inn, and death the journey's end."
by John Dryden
"Be slow to resolve, but quick in performance."
by John Dryden
"We lov'd, and we lov'd as long as we could Til our love was lov'd out in us both; But our marriage is dead, when the pleasure has fled: 'Twas pleasure that made it an oath."
by John Dryden
"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."
by John Dryden
"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."
by John Dryden
"All human things are subject to decay, And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey; This Flecknoe found, who like Augustus young Was call'd to empire, and had govern'd long: In prose and verse, was own'd, without dispute Through all the realms of nonsense, absolute."
by John Dryden
"Nor is the people's judgement always true; The most may err as grossly as the few."
by John Dryden
"Seek not to know what must not be reveal, for joy only flows where fate is most concealed. A busy person would find their sorrows much more; if future fortunes were known before!"
by John Dryden
"Repentance is but want of power to sin."
by John Dryden
"Reason to rule but mercy to forgive: The first is the law, the last prerogative."
by John Dryden
"Tomorrow do thy worst, I have lived today."
by John Dryden
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas."
by John Dryden
"Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me."
by John Dryden
"Woman's honor is nice as ermine; it will not bear a soil."
by John Dryden
"All objects lose by too familiar a view."
by John Dryden
"When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit."
by John Dryden
"Thou strong seducer, Opportunity!"
by John Dryden
"Oh that my Pow'r to Saving were confin"
by John Dryden
"Never was patriot yet, but was a fool."
by John Dryden
"He invades authors like a monarch; and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him."
by John Dryden
"Self-defense is Nature's eldest law."
by John Dryden
"She feared no danger, for she knew no sin."
by John Dryden
"Far more numerous are those as such; who think to little and talk to much."
by John Dryden
"Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you don't let other people spend it for you."
by John Dryden
"Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is, with thoughts of what may be."
by John Dryden
"All human things are subject to decay, And when fate summons, monarchs must obey."
by John Dryden
"Either be wholly slaves or wholly free."
by John Dryden
"Like pilgrims to th'appointed place we tend; The world's an inn, and death the journey's end."
by John Dryden
"Like pilgrims to th' appointed place we tend; The world's an inn, and death the journey's end."
by John Dryden
"This good had full as bad a Consequence: The Book thus put in every vulgar hand,..."
by John Dryden
"Your love by ours we measure Till we have lost our treasure, But dying is a pleasure, When living is a pain."
by John Dryden


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