---
title: "3 Knaves Quotes By John Dryden"
description: "3 Knaves quotes by John Dryden. Plus more from John Dryden and more Knaves sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/john-dryden-491_blockheads_how-easy-it-is-to-call-rogue-and-villain_999982.jpg"
---

> [How easy it is to call rogue and villain, and that wittily! But how hard to make a man appear a fool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/how-easy-it-is-to-call-rogue-and-villain-and-that-wittily-but-how/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/john-dryden-491_blockheads_how-easy-it-is-to-call-rogue-and-villain_999982.jpg)

> [Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/bold-knaves-thrive-without-one-grain-of-sense-but-good-men-starve-for/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/john-dryden-491_boldness_bold-knaves-thrive-without-one-grain-of_1675387.jpg)

> [None are so busy as the fool and the knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/none-are-so-busy-as-the-fool-and-the-knave/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/john-dryden-491_busy_none-are-so-busy-as-the-fool-and-the-kna_2649651.jpg)

## Other authors on Knaves

## More by John Dryden

> [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

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