Quote

If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi, 'tis no matter what they think they are sometimes in the right, sometimes in the wrong their judgment is a mere lottery.

John Dryden

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John Dryden
Age: 68 †
Born: 1631
Born: August 7
Died: 1700
Died: May 12
Hymnwriter
Literary Critic
Playwright
Poet
Translator
Aldwincle
Northamptonshire
Right
Multitude
Sometimes
Multitudes
Think
Mere
Thinking
Judgment
People
Understanding
Wrong
Understand
Matter
Lottery

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He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.
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Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease.
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Not sharp revenge, nor hell itself can find, A fiercer torment than a guilty mind, Which day and night doth dreadfully accuse, Condemns the wretch, and still the charge renews.
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Fortune's unjust she ruins oft the brave, and him who should be victor, makes the slave.
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Sweet is pleasure after pain.
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He invades authors like a monarch and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him.
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Silence in times of suffering is the best.
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Pleasure never comes sincere to man but lent by heaven upon hard usury.
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The propriety of thoughts and words, which are the hidden beauties of a play, are but confusedly judged in the vehemence of action.
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Honor is but an empty bubble.
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Fool, not to know that love endures no tie, And Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury.
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Virtue in distress, and vice in triumph make atheists of mankind.
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The longest tyranny that ever sway'd Was that wherein our ancestors betray'd Their free-born reason to the Stagirite [Aristotle], And made his torch their universal light. So truth, while only one suppli'd the state, Grew scarce, and dear, and yet sophisticate.
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For danger levels man and brute And all are fellows in their need.
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Lucky men are favorites of Heaven.
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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 some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.
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Since every man who lives is born to die, And none can boast sincere felicity, With equal mind, what happens, let us bear, Nor joy nor grieve too much for things beyond our care. Like pilgrims to the' appointed place we tend The world's an inn, and death the journey's end.
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They, who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men.
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For secrets are edged tools, And must be kept from children and from fools.
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Much malice mingled with a little wit Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ.
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