He invades authors like a monarch; and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him. — 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul. . . .… — 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
