--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even kings but play; and when their part…" description: "\"Even kings but play; and when their part is done, some other, worse or better, mounts the throne.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/john-dryden-491_acting_even-kings-but-play-and-when-their-part_418545.jpg" --- # Even kings but play; and when their part is done, some… ![“Even kings but play; and when their part is done, some other, worse or better, mounts the throne.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/john-dryden-491_acting_even-kings-but-play-and-when-their-part_418545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/john-dryden-491_acting_even-kings-but-play-and-when-their-part_418545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/john-dryden-491_acting_even-kings-but-play-and-when-their-part_418545.jpg) > “Even kings but play; and when their part is done, some other, worse or better, mounts the throne.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power shifts when leaders exit, and successors may be better or worse, reflecting the cyclical nature of authority. **In simple terms:** Leadership changes bring new rulers, good or bad. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant about who assumes power. Themes politics leadership succession change Mood thoughtful serious Type political historical When to use this quote - government transitions - corporate leadership - family inheritance - revolutionary shifts Key Concepts history political theory human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does a change in leadership affect you? - What qualities make a good successor? A Different Perspective Successors may lack legitimacy, causing instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes if I'm not playing well on stage, I'll purposely play even worse; I'll tear it apart, because I'm so disgusted with what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/sometimes-if-i-m-not-playing-well-on-stage-i-ll-purposely-play-even/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [When I watch good friends play, it's almost worse when you're watching, because you have zero impact: you have zero hand in what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/when-i-watch-good-friends-play-it-s-almost-worse-when-you-re-watching/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Kings play the fool, and the people suffer for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/kings-play-the-fool-and-the-people-suffer-for-it/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [War's a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/war-s-a-game-which-were-their-subjects-wise-kings-would-not-play-at/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [A crown, a throne could not be based on the not too very solid foundation of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/a-crown-a-throne-could-not-be-based-on-the-not-too-very-solid/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [The throne we honour is the people's choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/the-throne-we-honour-is-the-people-s-choice/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [It's not like I'm this glamour diva who hands everything over and I just sit on my throne at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/it-s-not-like-i-m-this-glamour-diva-who-hands-everything-over-and-i/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [he sat upon his throne, which is made of skulls...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-sat-upon-his-throne-which-is-made-of-skulls/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Don’t run to the phone, run to the throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/don-t-run-to-the-phone-run-to-the-throne/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I think that saving a little child And bringing him to his own, Is a derned sight better business Than loafing around the throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hay/i-think-that-saving-a-little-child-and-bringing-him-to-his-own-is-a/) [John Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hay/) > [Sweet Truth is a queen proud and mighty-- Her throne is in heaven above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sweet-truth-is-a-queen-proud-and-mighty-her-throne-is-in-heaven-above/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [He has never wanted to occupy the throne himself; he prefers the back seat - more room to spread out, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-has-never-wanted-to-occupy-the-throne-himself-he-prefers-the-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-and-seek-such-throne-as-this/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [But I'm alone on my throne All these riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/but-i-m-alone-on-my-throne-all-these-riches/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## 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! 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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/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. 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