And nobler is a limited command, Given by the love of all your native land, Than a successive title, long and dark, Drawn from the mouldy rolls of Noah's Ark. John Dryden More Quotes by John Dryden More Quotes From John Dryden For secrets are edged tools, And must be kept from children and from fools. John Dryden tools secret children None, none descends into himself, to find John Dryden imperfection eagles mind The first is the law, the last prerogative. John Dryden lasts literature law 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. John Dryden judgment running giving None but the brave deserve the fair. John Dryden fairs brave bravery We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure. John Dryden iron hot may What passion cannot music raise and quell! John Dryden piano passion music Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet. John Dryden power remember love An hour will come, with pleasure to relate Your sorrows past, as benefits of Fate. John Dryden fate sorrow past Mighty things from small beginnings grow. John Dryden grows power love Love is love's reward. John Dryden educational love philosophy Men are but children of a larger growth, Our appetites as apt to change as theirs, And full as craving too, and full as vain. John Dryden change time children Words are but pictures of our thoughts. John Dryden our-thoughts literature reality Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me. John Dryden tired eagles stupid Let those find fault whose wit's so very small, They've need to show that they can think at all; Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; He who would search for pearls, must dive below. Fops may have leave to level all they can; As pigmies would be glad to lop a man. Half-wits are fleas; so little and so light, We scarce could know they live, but that they bite. John Dryden errors men thinking Politicians neither love nor hate. John Dryden love-hate hate love Forgiveness to the injured does belong; but they ne'er pardon who have done wrong. John Dryden forgiveness done doe Murder may pass unpunishd for a time, But tardy justice will oertake the crime. John Dryden murder justice may Love is not in our choice but in our fate. John Dryden fate choices love Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own. John Dryden forgiveness forgiving soul