We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Much malice mingled with a little wit Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Prodigious actions may as well be done, by weaver's issue, as the prince's son. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Nor is the people's judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Murder may pass unpunishd for a time, But tardy justice will oertake the crime. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is with thoughts of what may be. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
I maintain, against the enemies of the stage, that patterns of piety, decently represented, may second the precepts. — 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
Calms appear, when Storms are past; Love will have his Hour at last: Nature is my kindly Care; Mars destroys, and I… — John Dryden Copy Share Image
For thee, sweet month; the groves green liveries wear. If not the first, the fairest of the year; For thee the Graces… — 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
Virgil, above all poets, had a stock which I may call almost inexhaustible, of figurative, elegant, and sounding words. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
I am devilishly afraid, that's certain; but ... I'll sing, that I may seem valiant. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Go miser go, for money sell your soul. Trade wares for wares and trudge from pole to pole, So others may say… — 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
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
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 Image
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 Image
To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
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 Image
A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
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 Image
Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes. — John Dryden Copy Share Image
