His preaching much, but more his practice wrought;
(A living sermon of the truths he taught).John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
“The Character of a Good Parson,” l. 77, Fables (1700)
Quotations by:
Dryden, John
How can finite grasp infinity?
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
(Attributed)
Far more numerous was the herd of such,
Who think too little, and who talk too much.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Absalom and Achitophel, l. 533 (1681)
Nor is the people’s judgment always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Absalom and Achitophel, l. 781 (1681)
Beware the fury of a patient man.
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Absalom and Achitophel, Part I, l. 1005 (1681)
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 (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
All for Love, 4.1 (1678)
Errors like straws upon the surface flow:
Who would search for pearls must dive below.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
All for Love, Prologue (1677)
Distrust, and darkness, of a future state,
Make poor Mankind so fearful of their Fate.
Death, in itself, is nothing; but we fear
To be we know not what, we know not where.
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He, who can call to-day his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Imitation of Horace, Book 3, ode 29, l. 65 (1685)
Thou strong seducer, Opportunity!
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Conquest of Granada, 2.4.3 (1672)
Friendship, of itself a holy tie,
Is made more sacred by adversity.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Hind and the Panther, Part 3, l. 47 (1687)
(Source)
The actual lines read:
For friendship of it self, an holy tye,
Is made more sacred by adversity.
Of all the tyrannies on humankind,
The worst is that which persecutes the mind.John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Hind and the Panther, 1.240 (1687)
You rule the Scripture, not the Scripture you.
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Hind and the Panther, 2.769 (1687)
Where passion rules, how weak does reason prove!
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
The Rival Ladies, 2.1 (1664)
We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Dedication in his translation of Virgil, The Aeneid
(Source)
Better shun the bait than struggle in the snare.
John Dryden (1631-1700) English poet, dramatist, critic
Epistle 13 “To My Honoured Kinsman, John Driden of Chesterton” (1699)