Top 15 John Conington Quotes

Arise from my bones, my unknown avenger.

A wet summer and a fine winter should be the farmer's prayer.

None knows the reason why this curse
Was sent on him, this love of making verse.

What's kept at home you cancel by a stroke:
What's sent abroad you never can revoke.

The gods implore
To crush the proud and elevate the poor.

Mere grace is not enough: a play should thrill
The hearer's soul, and move it at its will.

Who hopes by strange variety to please,
Puts dolphins among forests, boars in seas.

For easier 'tis to learn and recollect
What moves derision than what claims respect.

Virtue's a mere name,
Or 'tis high venture that achieves high aim.

Let hopes and sorrows, fears and angers be,
And think each day that dawns the last you'll see;
For so the hour that greets you unforeseen
Will bring with it enjoyment twice as keen.

You lose no time in taking out a fly,
Or straw, it may be, that torments your eye;
Why, when a thing devours your mind, adjourn
Till this day year all thought of the concern?
Come now, have courage to be wise: begin:
You're halfway over when you once plunge in:
He who puts off the time for mending, stands
A clodpoll by the stream with folded hands,
Waiting till all the water be gone past;
But it runs on, and will, while time shall last.

O Fortune, cruellest of heavenly powers,
Why make such game of this poor life of ours?

Then take, good sir, your pleasure while you may;
With life so short 'twere wrong to lose a day.

He who maligns an absent friend's fair fame,
Who says no word for him when others blame,
Who courts a reckless laugh by random hits,
Just for the sake of ranking among wits,
Who feigns what he ne'er saw, a secret blabs,
Beware him, Roman! that man steals or stabs!

Let Rome be glorious on the earth,
The centre of Italian worth.