John Wilmot
John Wilmot
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, was an English poet and courtier of King Charles II's Restoration court. The Restoration reacted against the "spiritual authoritarianism" of the Puritan era. Rochester was the embodiment of the new era, and he is as well known for his rakish lifestyle as his poetry, although the two were often interlinked. He died at the age of 33 from venereal disease...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth1 April 1647
suits vices want
Nothing suits worse with vice than want of sense
dream dog doors
For Hell and the foul fiend that rules God's everlasting fiery jails (Devised by rogues, dreaded by fools), With his grim, grisly dog that keeps the door, Are senseless stories, idle tales, Dreams, whimseys, and no more.
law strange constancy
Since 'tis Nature's law to change, Constancy alone is strange.
children orphan late
Late children are early orphans.
passion mind innocence
Love, the most generous passion of the mind The softest refuge innocence can find
men beast rochester
Man differs more from man than man from beast
men world worst
It is a very good world to live in, To lend or to spend, or to live in; but to beg or to borrow, or to get a man's own, It is the very worst world that ever was known.
sarcastic wise foolish
He never said a foolish thing nor never did a wise one.
dog animal proud
I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, or anything but that vain animal who is so proud of being rational.
wish theater libertine
I wish to be moved. I cannot feel in life. I must have others do it for me in theater.
philosophy book swim
Books bear him up a while, and make him try to swim with bladders of philosophy.
men coward would-be
All men would be cowards if they could.
women farewell drinking
Farewell, woman! I intend Henceforth every night to sit With my lewd, well-natured friend, Drinking to engender wit.
wise drinking blow
Thus, statesmanlike, I'll saucily impose, And safe from action, valiantly advise; Sheltered in impotence, urge you to blows, And being good for nothing else, be wise.