I am reading Jonson's verses to the memory of Shakespeare; an insolent, sparing, and invidious panegyric... — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Virgil, above all poets, had a stock which I may call almost inexhaustible, of figurative, elegant, and sounding words. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
He invades authors like a monarch; and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Errors like straws upon the surface flow: Who would search for pearls must dive below — John Dryden Copy Share Image
“I am sore wounded but not slain I will lay me down and bleed a while And then rise up to fight… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Satire among the Romans, but not among the Greeks, was a bitter invective poem. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
“For you may palm upon us new for old: All, as they say, that glitters, is not gold.” — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Since a true knowledge of nature gives us pleasure, a lively imitation of it, either in poetry or painting, must produce a… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
A farce is that in poetry which grotesque (caricature) is in painting. The persons and actions of a farce are all unnatural,… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Imagining is in itself the very height and life of poetry, which, by a kind of enthusiasm or extraordinary emotion of the… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
He [Shakespeare] was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul . .… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
The fortitude of a Christian consists in patience, not in enterprises which the poets call heroic, and which are commonly the effects… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
What judgment I had increases rather than diminishes; and thoughts, such as they are, come crowding in so fast upon me, that… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Doeg, though without knowing how or why, Made still a blundering kind of melody; Spurr'd boldly on, and dash'd through thick and… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Shakespeare was the Homer, or father of our dramatic poets;Jonson was theVirgil, the pattern of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I… — 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
He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. . . .… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
“Dim as the borrowed beams of moons and stars To lonely, weary, wandering travelers, Is Reason to the soul; and, as on… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Imagination in a poet is a faculty so wild and lawless that, like a high ranging spaniel, it must have clogs tied… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
There is an inimitable grace in Virgil's words, and in them principally consists that beauty which gives so inexpressible a pleasure to… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
One of the greatest, most noble, and most sublime poems which either this age or nation has produced. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Heroic poetry has ever been esteemed the greatest work of human nature. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
He is the very Janus of poets; he wears almost everywhere two faces; and you have scarce begun to admire the one,… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Railing in other men may be a crime, But ought to pass for mere instinct in him: Instinct he follows and no… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Fiction is of the essence of poetry as well as of painting; there is a resemblance in one of human bodies, things,… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Three poets, in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy, and England did adorn. The first in loftiness of thought surpass'd; The next,… — 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
![“He [Shakespeare] was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul . . . He was naturally learned; he needed not the spectacles of books to read nature; he looked inwards, and found her there.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/5e3/john-dryden-491_books_he-shakespeare-was-the-man-who-of-all-mo_2865062.jpg)
