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Imitation pleases, because it affords matter for inquiring into the truth or falsehood of imitation, by comparing its likeness or unlikeness with the original.

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
Compare
Originals
Inquiring
Original
Affords
Please
Likeness
Truth
Comparing
Matter
Pleases
Falsehood
Imitation

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So over violent, or over civil that every man with him was God or Devil.
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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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Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie than the will can choose an apparent evil.
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The people have a right supreme To make their kings, for Kings are made for them. All Empire is no more than Pow'r in Trust, Which when resum'd, can be no longer just. Successionm for the general good design'd, In its own wrong a Nation cannot bind.
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All empire is no more than power in trust.
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He was exhaled his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew.
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Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light but lucky men are favorites of heaven all own the chief, when fortune owns the cause.
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I learn to pity woes so like my own.
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Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet.
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At home the hateful names of parties cease, And factious souls are wearied into peace.
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Much malice mingled with a little wit Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ.
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Words are but pictures of our thoughts.
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Fiction is of the essence of poetry as well as of painting there is a resemblance in one of human bodies, things, and actions which are not real, and in the other of a true story by fiction.
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Bacchus ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain. Bachus's blessings are a treasure, Drinking is the soldier's pleasure, Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure- Sweet is pleasure after pain.
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But 'tis the talent of our English nation, Still to be plotting some new reformation.
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Every language is so full of its own proprieties that what is beautiful in one is often barbarous, nay, sometimes nonsense, in another.
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He wants worth who dares not praise a foe.
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Love either finds equality or makes it.
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