John Dryden Quotes

17th-century English poet and playwright (1631–1700)

John Dryden (19 August 1631 {9 August O.S.} – 12 May 1700 {1 May O.S.}) was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright. He was Poet Laureate, 1668–1689.

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Can heav'nly minds such high resentment show,
Or exercise their spite in human woe?

From Plots and Treasons Heaven preserve my years,
But Save me most from my Petitioners.
Unsatiate as the barren Womb or Grave;
God cannot Grant so much as they can Crave.

Give, you gods,
Give to your boy, your Caesar,
This rattle of a globe to play withal,
This gewgaw world, and put him cheaply off:
I'll not be pleased with less than Cleopatra.

Rhyme is the rock on which thou art to wreck.

None are so busy as the fool and knave.

Self-defence is nature's eldest law

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

All things are hush'd, as Nature's self lay dead,
The Mountains seem to nod their drowsy head;
The little Birds in dreams their Songs repeat,
And sleeping Flowers, beneath the night-dew sweat;
Even Lust and Envy sleep.

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

Happy who in his verse can gently steer
From grave to light, from pleasant to severe.

Love conquers all, and we must yield to Love.

so meer Poets and meer Musicians, are as sottish as meer Drunkards are, who live in a continuall mist without seeing, or judgeing any thing clearly.
A man should be learn'd in severall Sciences, and should have a rea∣sonable Philosophicall, and ni some measure a Mathematicall head; to be a compleat and excellent Poet

Here lies my wife: here let her lie!
Now she's at rest, and so am I.

Be kind to my remains; and oh defend,
Against your judgment, your departed friend!

Fame then was cheap, and the first comer sped;
And they have kept it since by being dead.