John Dryden
Mankind is ever the same, and nothing lost out of nature, though everything is altered.Collection: Lost
There is an inimitable grace in Virgil's words, and in them principally consists that beauty which gives so inexpressible a pleasure to him who best understands their force. This diction of his, I must once again say, is never to be copied; and since it cannot, he will appear but lame in the best translation.Collection: Giving
Is it not evident, in these last hundred years (when the Study of Philosophy has been the business of all the Virtuosi in Christendome) that almost a new Nature has been revealed to us? that more errours of the School have been detected, more useful Experiments in Philosophy have been made, more Noble Secrets in Opticks, Medicine, Anatomy, Astronomy, discover'd, than in all those credulous and doting Ages from Aristotle to us? So true it is that nothing spreads more fast than Science, when rightly and generally cultivated.Collection: Philosophy
From Harmony, from heav'nly Harmony. This universal Frame began.Collection: Science
Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.Collection: Nature
It is sufficient to say, according to the proverb, that here is God's plenty.Collection: Plenty
Virgil is so exact in every word, that none can be changed but for a worse; nor any one removed from its place, but the harmony will be altered. He pretends sometimes to trip; but it is only to make you think him in danger of a fall, when he is most secure.Collection: Fall
From plots and treasons Heaven preserve my years, But save me most from my petitioners. Unsatiate as the barren womb or grave; God cannot grant so much as they can crave.Collection: Years
A man may be capable, as Jack Ketch's wife said of his servant, of a plain piece of work, a bare hanging; but to makea malefactordiesweetly was only belonging toher husband.Collection: Husband
Government itself at length must fall To nature's state, where all have right to all.Collection: Fall
Virgil, above all poets, had a stock which I may call almost inexhaustible, of figurative, elegant, and sounding words.Collection: May
One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it.Collection: Wit
I am resolved to grow fat, and look young till forty.Collection: Looks
The unhappy man, who once has trail'd a pen, Lives not to please himself, but other men; Is always drudging, wastes his life and blood, Yet only eats and drinks what you think good.Collection: Men
For every inch that is not fool, is rogue.Collection: Character
My right eye itches, some good luck is near.Collection: Good Luck
When beauty fires the blood, how love exalts the mind!Collection: Love
The soft complaining flute, In dying notes, discovers The woes of hopeless lovers.Collection: Dying
Bets at first were fool-traps, where the wise like spiders lay in ambush for the flies.Collection: Wise
To draw true beauty shows a master's hand.Collection: Beauty
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.Collection: Men
Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors.Collection: Criticism
The greater part performed achieves the less.Collection: Success
Beauty is nothing else but a just accord and mutual harmony of the members, animated by a healthful constitution.Collection: Beauty
What judgment I had increases rather than diminishes; and thoughts, such as they are, come crowding in so fast upon me, that my only difficulty is to choose or reject; to run them into verse or to give them the other harmony of prose.Collection: Running
It's a hard world, neighbors, if a man's oath must be his master.Collection: Men
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.Collection: Spring
Democracy is essentially anti-authoritarian--that is, it not only demands the right but imposes the responsibility of thinking for ourselves.Collection: Responsibility
Maintain your post: That's all the fame you need; For 'tis impossible you should proceed.Collection: Needs
And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than by disputes the public peace disturb; For points obscure are of small use to learn, But common quiet is mankind's concern.Collection: Running
God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love.Collection: Men
The blushing beauties of a modest maid.Collection: Maids
For my part, I can compare her (a gossip) to nothing but the sun; for, like him, she knows no rest, nor ever sets in one place but to rise in another.Collection: Gossip
Plots, true or false, are necessary things, To raise up commonwealths and ruin kings.Collection: Kings
What precious drops are those, Which silently each other's track pursue, Bright as young diamonds in their faint dew?Collection: Track
And that the Scriptures, though not everywhere Free from corruption, or entire, or clear, Are uncorrupt, sufficient, clear, entire In all things which our needful faith require.Collection: Scripture
They live too long who happiness outlive.Collection: Happiness
They think too little who talk too much.Collection: Thinking
Parting is worse than death; it is death of love!Collection: Parting
As one that neither seeks, nor shuns his foe.Collection: Foe
Pity melts the mind to love.Collection: Life
Swift was the race, but short the time to run.Collection: Running
Thus, while the mute creation downward bend Their sight, and to their earthly mother ten, Man looks aloft; and with erected eyes Beholds his own hereditary skies.Collection: Mother