John Dryden Quotes

All, all of a piece throughout:
Thy chase had a beast in view;
Thy wars brought nothing about;
Thy lovers were all untrue.
'Tis well an old age is out,
And time to begin a new.

A satirical poet is the check of the laymen on bad priests.

And, dying, bless the hand that gave the blow.

The winds that never moderation knew,
Afraid to blow too much, too faintly blew;
Or out of breath with joy, could not enlarge
Their straighten'd lungs or conscious of their charge.

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

So easie still it proves in Factious Times,
With publick Zeal to cancel private Crimes:
How safe is Treason, and how sacred ill,
Where none can sin against the Peoples Will:
Where Crouds can wink; and no offence be known,
Since in anothers guilt they find their own.

Look round the habitable world, how few
Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!

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.

Whistling to keep myself from being afraid.

So, when the last and dreadful Hour
This crumbling Pageant shall devour,
The trumpet shall be heard on high,
The dead shall live, the living die,
And musick shall untune the Sky.

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

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

Two if's scarce make one possibility.

And threat'ning France, plac'd like a painted Jove,
Kept idle thunder in his lifted hand.

I am reading Jonson's verses to the memory of Shakespeare; an insolent, sparing, and invidious panegyric.