Prodigious actions may as well be done, by weaver's issue, as the prince's son. John Dryden More Quotes by John Dryden More Quotes From John Dryden As one that neither seeks, nor shuns his foe. John Dryden foe 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. John Dryden dictiongracegiving The poorest of the sex have still an itch To know their fortunes, equal to the rich. The dairy-maid inquires, if she shall take The trusty tailor, and the cook forsake. John Dryden maidscuriositysex Mankind is ever the same, and nothing lost out of nature, though everything is altered. John Dryden alteredmankindlost [T]he Famous Rules which the French call, Des Trois Unitez , or, The Three Unities, which ought to be observ'd in every Regular Play; namely, of Time, Place, and Action. John Dryden unitythreeplay And, dying, bless the hand that gave the blow. John Dryden dyingblowhands Government itself at length must fall To nature's state, where all have right to all. John Dryden lengthgovernmentfall One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it. John Dryden frugalwitwanted Second thoughts, they say, are best. John Dryden second-thoughts Imagination in a poet is a faculty so wild and lawless that, like a high ranging spaniel, it must have clogs tied to it, lest it outrun the judgment. The great easiness of blank verse renders the poet too luxuriant. He is tempted to say many things which might better be omitted, or, at least shut up in fewer words. John Dryden shut-upimaginationmight Repentance is the virtue of weak minds. John Dryden virtueweakmind Virgil, above all poets, had a stock which I may call almost inexhaustible, of figurative, elegant, and sounding words. John Dryden elegantpoetmay That, if the Gentiles, (whom no Law inspir'd,) John Dryden indictmentgentileslaw As when the dove returning bore the mark Of earth restored to the long labouring ark; The relics of mankind, secure at rest, Oped every window to receive the guest, And the fair bearer of the message bless'd. John Dryden arkearthlong I am resolved to grow fat, and look young till forty. John Dryden fatsyounglooks He was exhaled; his great Creator drew His spirit, as the sun the morning dew. John Dryden dyingmorningdeath But how can finite grasp Infinity? John Dryden finiteinfinity War is a trade of kings. John Dryden tradekingswar The Jews, a headstrong, moody, murmuring race. John Dryden headstrongmurmuringrace So poetry, which is in Oxford made An art, in London only is a trade. John Dryden londonoxfordart