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Absalom and Achitophel QUOTES

Absalom and Achitophel QUOTES

1 " But far more numerous was the herd of such,
Who think too little, and who talk too much. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

2 " Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

3 " Great wits are to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their bounds divide. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

4 " A man so various, that he seem'd to be
Not one, but all Mankinds Epitome.
Stiff in Opinions, always in the wrong;
Was every thing by starts, and nothing long:
But, in the course of one revolving Moon,
Was Chymist, Fidler, States-Man, and Buffoon:
Then all for Women, Painting, Rhiming, Drinking;
Besides ten thousand freaks that dy'd in thinking.
Blest Madman, who coud every hour employ,
With something New to wish, or to enjoy!
Rayling and praising were his usual Theams;
And both (to shew his Judgment) in Extreams:
So over Violent, or over Civil,
That every man, with him, was God or Devil.
In squandring Wealth was his peculiar Art:
Nothing went unrewarded, but Desert.
Begger'd by Fools, whom still he found too late:
He had his Jest, and they had his Estate. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

5 " From Plots and Treasons Heaven preserve my years,
But Save me most from my Petitioners.
Unsatiate as the barren Womb or Grave;
God cannot Grant so much as they can Crave. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

6 " Thus, in a Pageant Show, a Plot is made;
And Peace it self is War in Masquerade. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

7 " Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

8 " In God ’tis glory: And when men aspire,
’Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

9 " For whatsoe'er their sufferings were before,
That change they covet makes them suffer more.
All other errors but disturb a state;
But innovation is the blow of fate. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

10 " Nor is the people's judgment always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

11 " Fools are more hard to conquer than persuade. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

12 " So easie still it proves in Factious Times,
With publick Zeal to cancel private Crimes:
How safe is Treason, and how sacred ill,
Where none can sin against the Peoples Will:
Where Crouds can wink; and no offence be known,
Since in anothers guilt they find their own. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

13 " But wilde Ambition loves to slide, not stand;
And Fortunes Ice prefers to Vertues Land "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

14 " What cannot Praise effect in Mighty Minds,
When Flattery Sooths, and when Ambition Blinds! "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

15 " Yet if a Poem have a Genius, it will force its own reception in the World. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel

16 " But, when to Sin our byast Nature leans,
The carefull Devil is still at hand with means;
And providently Pimps for ill desires:
The Good old Cause reviv'd, a Plot requires.
Plots, true or false, are necessary things,
To raise up Common-wealths, and ruin Kings. "

― John Dryden , Absalom and Achitophel