John Dryden Quotes — People

A small orange bird presses against the glass inside a corked bottle resting on slate. — Original artwork

A fiery soul, which, working out its way, Fretted the pygmy-body to decay, And o'er-inform'd the tenement of clay. A daring pilot in extremity; Pleas'd with the danger, when the waves went high He sought the storms.

John Dryden

An ornate gold mirror displays a pale jester's cap above draped ivory fabric and small gold objects. — Original artwork

A man so various, that he seem'd to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon.

John Dryden

A broken pink piggy bank lies beside a fallen brass goblet and curled orange ribbon on a dark surface. — Original artwork

And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeather'd two-legged thing, a son.

John Dryden

A mint-green wire book rack holding two plain ochre books and a small brass bell against a dark blue background. — Original artwork

And heaven had wanted one immortal song.

John Dryden

An ornate gold crown rests on a dark cushion beside a white glove and a brass megaphone. — Original artwork

And kind as kings upon their coronation day.

John Dryden

Painterly wooden megaphone spilling tangled gold and teal ribbons on a pale surface. — Original artwork

And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.

John Dryden

Two worn leather work gloves lie crossed on a small wooden bench in golden window light. — Original artwork

And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.

John Dryden

A dark green wine bottle draped with a white napkin beside a glass of red wine and a small bunch of grapes. — Original artwork

A very merry, dancing, drinking,

John Dryden

Bacchus, ever fair and ever young.

John Dryden

A small gilded laurel crown tilted on a white enamel colander with a green olive beside it against a brick-red background. — Original artwork

Be kind to my remains; and oh defend,

John Dryden

A worn muddy walking boot stands beside a fern and small pebbles against a muted green background. — Original artwork

Better to hunt in fields for health unbought

John Dryden

A single upright match burns against a dark background, its flame reflected on a glossy surface. — Original artwork

Beware the fury of a patient man.

John Dryden

Glass snowball containing coin-shaped silver discs, set on a base amid an icy puddle and loose shards — Original artwork

But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand, And Fortune’s ice prefers to Virtue’s land.

John Dryden

An antique brass horn lies on dark wood with red roses, scattered petals and golden feathers spilling from its bell. — Original artwork

Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

John Dryden

Painterly compass beside a narrow glowing doorway in a dark freestanding wall. — Original artwork

Death in itself is nothing; but we fear To be we know not what, we know not where.

John Dryden

A pearl necklace drapes across a gray feather beside a dried sprig on a sunlit windowsill. — Original artwork

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; He who would search for pearls must dive below.

John Dryden

A red paper heart sits in the loop of a dark iron padlock beside a brass chain on a slate tile. — Original artwork

Fool, not to know that love endures no tie,

John Dryden

A small painting of golden wheat leaning against a wooden stool beside a brush in a glass jar. — Original artwork

For Art may err, but Nature cannot miss.

John Dryden

For every inch that is not fool is rogue.

John Dryden

A teal teardrop suspended above a glass bowl of water on a dark ledge. — Original artwork

For pity melts the mind to love.

John Dryden

Painterly partly dismantled brass clock mechanism and loose gears on a workbench. — Original artwork

For those whom God to ruin has design'd, He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind.

John Dryden

A narrow upright pane of clear glass stands beside a small white flower and mossy stone against a grey background. — Original artwork

For truth has such a face and such a mien, As to be lov'd needs only to be seen.

John Dryden

Fractured indigo tabletop mirror showing several stylized anonymous faces with broken glass at its base — Original artwork

Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

John Dryden

A straw hat rests in a striped hammock between two small potted trees, with a peach beside one pot. — Original artwork

Happy the man, and happy he alone, He who can call to-day his own; He who, secure within, can say, To-morrow, do thy worst, for I have liv'd to-day.

John Dryden

A crowned wooden owl balances on a seesaw opposite a striped baby rattle against ivory. — Original artwork

Her wit was more than man, her innocence a child.

John Dryden

Painterly open brass compass on moss beside a muddy bootprint. — Original artwork

He trudg’d along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought.

John Dryden

A reddish-brown feather stands upright beside a glowing orange orb in warm golden light. — Original artwork

He was exhal'd; his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew.

John Dryden

A brass dish full of gold coins with a red ribbon curling out of it on a purple background. — Original artwork

I can enjoy her while she 's kind; But when she dances in the wind, And shakes the wings and will not stay, I puff the prostitute away.

John Dryden

Two floral teacups lean toward each other, their handles joined by a thin gold thread on pink cloth. — Original artwork

I have not joyed an hour since you departed, for public miseries, and for private fears; but this blest meeting has o'erpaid them all.

John Dryden

Turquoise water flows through a small wooden dam bordered by rocks and low plants. — Original artwork

Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,– As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.

John Dryden

Two differently patterned floral paper halves form a heart joined by a thin golden thread on cream ground. — Original artwork

Love taught him shame; and shame, with love at strife, Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.

John Dryden

A small pair of cream children's shoes stands beside larger brown shoes on a warm wooden floor. — Original artwork

Men are but children of a larger growth.

John Dryden

A smiling yellow paper mask on a stick leans beside a white flower in a glass of water. — Original artwork

Men met each other with erected look,

John Dryden

Four small shields facing forward, with a fifth turned around and set apart on an olive background. — Original artwork

None but the brave deserves the fair.

John Dryden

A small amber glass hourglass containing a pale curled swirl on a charcoal and amber background. — Original artwork

Not heaven itself upon the past has power; But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.

John Dryden

A cracked oval mirror stands beside wilted roses, a small lidded jar and pale lace on a dusty rose surface. — Original artwork

Old as I am, for ladies’ love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet.

John Dryden

Two silver thimbles are joined by red thread, while another pair sit close together beside them on a teal surface. — Original artwork

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

A red wax chess knight with melted wax at its base stands beside a brass compass on slate. — Original artwork

Resolv’d to ruin or to rule the state.

John Dryden

A carved wooden hand gripping a thorny rose stem, with a ripe peach lying next to it on a sage green surface. — Original artwork

Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure,– Sweet is pleasure after pain.

John Dryden

Smiling and sorrowful white theatre masks at opposite ends of a tilted plank balanced on a lilac cube. — Original artwork

She hugg'd the offender, and forgave the offence: Sex to the last.

John Dryden

A small observatory beneath stars and green-gold aurora above a mountain lake. — Original artwork

Since heaven's eternal year is thine.

John Dryden

A small wooden figure casts two shadows in opposite directions across cracked orange ground. — Original artwork

So over violent, or over civil, That every man with him was God or Devil.

John Dryden

Painterly drooping white lily resting on a stone windowsill in grey light. — Original artwork

So softly death succeeded life in her,

John Dryden

A tall frosted-glass lantern leading a row of smaller glowing lanterns on a pale grey background. — Original artwork

The people's prayer, the glad diviner's theme, The young men's vision, and the old men's dream!

John Dryden

A weathered round shield rests against folded cloth with a white feather along its rim in warm dawn light. — Original artwork

Thus all below is strength, and all above is grace.

John Dryden

Painterly jester mask and curled party horn with scattered confetti against bright pink. — Original artwork

'Tis good to laugh at any rate; and if a straw can tickle a man, it is an instrument of happiness.

John Dryden

A green sprout in a cracked clay bowl beneath a small watering can pouring clear drops against a pale blue background. — Original artwork

Welcome as kindly showers to the long parched earth.

John Dryden

Painterly white feather on folded cream paper tied with a faded grey ribbon. — Original artwork

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease, In him alone 't was natural to please.

John Dryden

Two sculpted hands reach toward each other with a small warm glow between their fingertips against a dark blue background. — Original artwork

When beauty fires the blood, how love exalts the mind!

John Dryden

Blank paper speech bubbles hang by fine threads from crossed wooden bars against a muted plum background. — Original artwork

Who think too little, and who talk too much.

John Dryden

A glowing glass light bulb lies beside clear water droplets on a square slate tile. — Original artwork

Wit will shine

John Dryden