John Dryden
John Dryden
John Drydenwas an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668...
above bore fool fools-and-foolishness till tired wings
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.
cheating consider favour fooled former men trust
When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Yet, fooled by hope, men favour the deceit; trust on, and think to-morrow will repay: to-morrow's falser than the former day.
file finish fool fools-and-foolishness god help school true
True fops help nature's work, and go to school - to file and finish God Almighty's fool
patriotism fool patriot
Never was patriot yet, but was a fool.
children secret fool
For secrets are edged tools, And must be kept from children and from fools.
character rogues fool
For every inch that is not fool, is rogue.
knaves fool busy
None are so busy as the fool and the knave.
wise gambling fool
Bets at first were fool-traps, where the wise like spiders lay in ambush for the flies.
giant theirs
Theirs was the giant race, before the flood.
authority combat establish general men particular reputation themselves understanding
They who would combat general authority with particular opinion, must first establish themselves a reputation of understanding better than other men
danced days witness
Witness ye days and nights, and all ye hours, / That danced away with down upon your feet.
affect gravity men name solid wanting wit
Those wanting wit affect gravity and go by the name of solid men
cousin
Cousin Swift, you will never be a poet.
chose discourse nearest rugged verse
And this unpolished rugged verse I chose / As fittest for discourse and nearest prose.