Quotes
Quotes - Dryden
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.
But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little, and who talk too much.
What precious drops are those, Which silently each other's track pursue, Bright as young diamonds in their faint dew?
Better shun the bait than struggle in the snare.
Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.
Happy the man, and happy he alone, He, who can call to-day his own: He who, secure within, can say, Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have liv'd today.
Tomorrow do thy worst, I have lived today.
Treason is not own'd when 'tis descried; Successful crimes alone are justified.
Errors like straws upon the surface flow: Who would search for pearls must dive below.
Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain: Fought all his battles o'er again; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.
The people's prayer, the glad diviner's theme! The young men's vision, and the old men's dream.
The winds that never moderation knew, Afraid to blow too much, too faintly blew; Or out of breath with joy, could not enlarge Their straighten'd lungs or conscious of their charge.
Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide.
Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.
Wit will shine Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.
You know I met you, Kist you, and prest you close within my arms, With all the tenderness of wifely love.
Long stood the noble youth oppress'd with awe, And stupid at the wondrous things he saw, Surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law.
Youth should watch joys and shoot them as they fly.
The most aggravating thing about the younger generation is that I no longer belong to it.
