718 Quotes by John Dryden

Nor is the people’s judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.

A knock-down argument; ’tis but a word and a blow.

What, start at this! when sixty years have spread. Their grey experience o’er thy hoary head? Is this the all observing age could gain? Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is to observe those excellencies which delight a reasonable reader.

And that one hunting, which the Devil design’d For one fair female, lost him half the kind.

With odorous oil thy head and hair are sleek; And then thou kemb’st the tuzzes on thy cheek: Of these, my barbers take a costly care.

Freedom which in no other land will thrive, Freedom an English subject’s sole prerogative.

But ’tis the talent of our English nation, Still to be plotting some new reformation.

A man may be capable, as Jack Ketch’s wife said of his servant, of a plain piece of work, a bare hanging; but to makea malefactordiesweetly was only belonging toher husband.