John Dryden

All things are subject to decay and when fate summons, monarchs must obey.

Tis Fate that flings the dice,And as she flingsOf kings makes peasants,And of peasants kings.

Whatever is, is in its causes just;But purblind manSees but a part o' th' chain; the nearest link;His eyes not carrying to that equal beamThat poises all above.

None are so busy as the fool and knave.

When I consider life, 't is all a cheat.Yet fool'd with hope, men favour the deceit;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 blestWith some new joys, cuts off what we possest.Strange cozenage! none would live past years again,Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain;And from the dregs of life think to receiveWhat the first sprightly running could not give.

Thus like a Captive in an Isle confin'd,Man walks at large, a Pris'ner of the Mind

If others in the same Glass better see 'Tis for Themselves they look, but not for me: For my Salvation must its Doom receive Not from what others, but what I believe.

We first make our habits, then our habits make us.

Such subtle covenants shall be made, Till peace itself is war in masquerade.

Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.

The intoxication of anger, like that of the grape, shows us to others, but hides us from ourselves.

Dancing is the poetry of the foot.

And plenty makes us poor.

Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way: Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on, And see the dangers that we cannot shun.

Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul.

Forgiveness to the injured does belong but they ne'er pardon who have done wrong.

For truth has such a face and such a mien, as to be loved needs only to be seen.