Quote

Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.

John Dryden

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

John Dryden
Age: 68 †
Born: 1631
Born: August 7
Died: 1700
Died: May 12
Hymnwriter
Literary Critic
Playwright
Poet
Translator
Aldwincle
Northamptonshire
Last
Forgive
Reason
Forgiveness
Firsts
Forgiving
First
Mercy
Life
Adventure
Rule
Law
Lasts
Prerogative

More quotes by John Dryden

Image
War is a trade of kings.
John Dryden
Image
Of all the tyrannies on human kind the worst is that which persecutes the mind.
John Dryden
Image
But when to sin our biased nature leans, The careful Devil is still at hand with means And providently pimps for ill desires.
John Dryden
Image
My heart's so full of joy, That I shall do some wild extravagance Of love in public and the foolish world, Which knows not tenderness, will think me mad.
John Dryden
Image
He wants worth who dares not praise a foe.
John Dryden
Image
A narrow mind begets obstinacy we do not easily believe what we cannot see.
John Dryden
Image
Many things impossible to thought have been by need to full perfection brought.
John Dryden
Image
Mere poets are sottish as mere drunkards are, who live in a continual mist, without seeing or judging anything clearly. A man should be learned in several sciences, and should have a reasonable, philosophical and in some measure a mathematical head, to be a complete and excellent poet.
John Dryden
Image
Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
John Dryden
Image
Thus, while the mute creation downward bend Their sight, and to their earthly mother ten, Man looks aloft and with erected eyes Beholds his own hereditary skies.
John Dryden
Image
The good we have enjoyed from Heaven's free will, and shall we murmur to endure the ill?
John Dryden
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 by disputes the public peace disturb For points obscure are of small use to learn, But common quiet is mankind's concern.
John Dryden
Image
More liberty begets desire of more The hunger still increases with the store
John Dryden
Image
Possess your soul with patience.
John Dryden
Image
Riches cannot rescue from the grave, which claims alike the monarch and the slave.
John Dryden
Image
Much malice mingled with a little wit Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ.
John Dryden
Image
Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence.
John Dryden
Image
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see: the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. Thus all below is strength, and all above is grace.
John Dryden
Image
Better one suffer than a nation grieve.
John Dryden
Image
Our souls sit close and silently within, And their own web from their own entrails spin And when eyes meet far off, our sense is such, That, spider-like, we feel the tenderest touch.
John Dryden