Quote

Railing in other men may be a crime, But ought to pass for mere instinct in him: Instinct he follows and no further knows, For to write verse with him is to transprose.

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
Railing
Ought
Verse
Write
Verses
May
Follows
Writing
Instinct
Men
Pass
Mere
Crime

More quotes by John Dryden

Image
Desire of greatness is a godlike sin.
John Dryden
Image
Dreams are but interludes that fancy makes... Sometimes forgotten things, long cast behind Rush forward in the brain, and come to mind.
John Dryden
Image
Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.
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
Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense, But good men starve for want of impudence.
John Dryden
Image
Like pilgrims to th' appointed place we tend The World's an Inn, and Death the journey's end.
John Dryden
Image
How blessed is he, who leads a country life, Unvex'd with anxious cares, and void of strife! Who studying peace, and shunning civil rage, Enjoy'd his youth, and now enjoys his age: All who deserve his love, he makes his own And, to be lov'd himself, needs only to be known.
John Dryden
Image
She feared no danger, for she knew no sin.
John Dryden
Image
My whole life Has been a golden dream of love and friendship.
John Dryden
Image
They think too little who talk too much.
John Dryden
Image
Love reckons hours for months, and days for years and every little absence is an age.
John Dryden
Image
The scum that rises upmost, when the nation boils.
John Dryden
Image
Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
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
How happy the lover, How easy his chain, How pleasing his pain, How sweet to discover He sighs not in vain.
John Dryden
Image
Not to ask is not be denied.
John Dryden
Image
Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.
John Dryden
Image
The perverseness of my fate is such that he's not mine because he's mine too much.
John Dryden
Image
Be fair, or foul, or rain, or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine. Not heaven itself upon the past has power But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.
John Dryden
Image
I trade both with the living and the dead, for the enrichment of our native language.
John Dryden