Reason to rule but mercy to forgive The first is the law, the last prerogative. 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 toolssecretchildren None, none descends into himself, to find John Dryden imperfectioneaglesmind The first is the law, the last prerogative. John Dryden lastsliteraturelaw 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 judgmentrunninggiving None but the brave deserve the fair. John Dryden fairsbravebravery We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure. John Dryden ironhotmay What passion cannot music raise and quell! John Dryden pianopassionmusic Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet. John Dryden powerrememberlove An hour will come, with pleasure to relate Your sorrows past, as benefits of Fate. John Dryden fatesorrowpast Mighty things from small beginnings grow. John Dryden growspowerlove Love is love's reward. John Dryden educationallovephilosophy 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 changetimechildren Words are but pictures of our thoughts. John Dryden our-thoughtsliteraturereality 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 tiredeaglesstupid 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 errorsmenthinking Politicians neither love nor hate. John Dryden love-hatehatelove Forgiveness to the injured does belong; but they ne'er pardon who have done wrong. John Dryden forgivenessdonedoe Murder may pass unpunishd for a time, But tardy justice will oertake the crime. John Dryden murderjusticemay Love is not in our choice but in our fate. John Dryden fatechoiceslove Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own. John Dryden forgivenessforgivingsoul
