Quote

Democracy is essentially anti-authoritarian--that is, it not only demands the right but imposes the responsibility of thinking for ourselves.

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
Thinking
Authoritarian
Essentially
Demands
Anti
Demand
Democracy
Responsibility
Right
Imposes

More quotes by John Dryden

Image
[T]he Famous Rules which the French call, Des Trois Unitez , or, The Three Unities, which ought to be observ'd in every Regular Play namely, of Time, Place, and Action.
John Dryden
Image
The good we have enjoyed from Heaven's free will, and shall we murmur to endure the ill?
John Dryden
Image
My right eye itches, some good luck is near.
John Dryden
Image
Death ends our woes, and the kind grave shuts up the mournful scene.
John Dryden
Image
When we view elevated ideas of Nature, the result of that view is admiration, which is always the cause of pleasure.
John Dryden
Image
Repentance is but want of power to sin.
John Dryden
Image
Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
John Dryden
Image
Doeg, though without knowing how or why, Made still a blundering kind of melody Spurr'd boldly on, and dash'd through thick and thin, Through sense and nonsense, never out nor in Free from all meaning whether good or bad, And in one word, heroically mad.
John Dryden
Image
Drinking is the soldier's pleasure.
John Dryden
Image
He trudged along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.
John Dryden
Image
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, To raise up commonwealths and ruin kings.
John Dryden
Image
If passion rules, how weak does reason prove!
John Dryden
Image
Thou spring'st a leak already in thy crown, A flaw is in thy ill-bak'd vessel found 'Tis hollow, and returns a jarring sound, Yet thy moist clay is pliant to command, Unwrought, and easy to the potter's hand: Now take the mould now bend thy mind to feel The first sharp motions of the forming wheel.
John Dryden
Image
Either be wholly slaves or wholly free.
John Dryden
Image
A narrow mind begets obstinacy we do not easily believe what we cannot see.
John Dryden
Image
An horrible stillness first invades our ear, And in that silence we the tempest fear.
John Dryden
Image
I strongly wish for what I faintly hope like the daydreams of melancholy men, I think and think in things impossible, yet love to wander in that golden maze.
John Dryden
Image
All habits gather by unseen degrees.
John Dryden
Image
Reason is a crutch for age, but youth is strong enough to walk alone.
John Dryden
Image
Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed, Yet, sprung from high, is of celestial seed: In God 'tisglory and when men aspire, 'Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire.
John Dryden