So over violent, or over civil that every man with him was God or Devil. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
The thought of being nothing after death is a burden insupportable to a virtuous man. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Pleasure never comes sincere to man; but lent by heaven upon hard usury. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
'Tis a good thing to laugh at any rate; and if a straw can tickle a man, it is an instrument of… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Fortune, that with malicious joyDoes man her slave oppress,Proud of her office to destroy,Is seldom pleasd to bless. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
A brave man scorns to quarrel once a day; Like Hectors in at every petty fray. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
The people's prayer, the glad diviner's theme, The young men's vision, and the old men's dream! — John Dryden Copy Share Image
They, who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Thus, while the mute creation downward bend Their sight, and to their earthly mother ten, Man looks aloft; and with erected eyes… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
A good conscience is a port which is landlocked on every side, where no winds can possibly invade. There a man may… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed, Yet, sprung from high, is of celestial seed: In God 'tisglory; and when men… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
The brave man seeks not popular applause, Nor, overpower'd with arms, deserts his cause; Unsham'd, though foil'd, he does the best he… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
For granting we have sinned, and that the offence Of man is made against Omnipotence, Some price that bears proportion must be… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
A woman's counsel brought us first to woe, And made her man his paradise forego, Where at heart's ease he liv'd; and… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Mere poets are sottish as mere drunkards are, who live in a continual mist, without seeing or judging anything clearly. A man… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Let those find fault whose wit's so very small, They've need to show that they can think at all; Errors, like straws,… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
How easy it is to call rogue and villain, and that wittily! But how hard to make a man appear a fool,… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. . . .… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Since every man who lives is born to die, And none can boast sincere felicity, With equal mind, what happens, let us… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
In pious times, ere priest-craft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sin; When man, on many, multipli'd his kind, Ere one… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
When I consider life, 't is all a cheat. Yet fool'd with hope, men favour the deceit; Trust on, and think to-morrow… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
From harmony, from heavenly harmony, This universal frame began: When nature underneath a heap Of jarring atoms lay, And could not heave… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
The elephant is never won by anger; nor must that man who would reclaim a lion take him by the teeth. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
When a man's life is under debate, The judge can ne'er too long deliberate. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Heaven be thanked, we live in such an age, When no man dies for love, but on the stage. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
A man may be capable, as Jack Ketch's wife said of his servant, of a plain piece of work, a bare hanging;… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what… — John Dryden Copy Share
Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With… — John Dryden Copy Share
To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry. — John Dryden Copy Share
And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than… — John Dryden Copy Share
A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight. — John Dryden Copy Share
Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness. — John Dryden Copy Share
He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every… — John Dryden Copy Share
Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when… — John Dryden Copy Share
“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.” — John Dryden Copy Share
