John Dryden

Birth: 1631-08-09 , Aldwincle

Death: 1700-05-01 , Londres

John Dryden (1631-1700) was an English poet, playwright, and literary critic. A dominant figure in the literary life of Restoration England, he was appointed the first Poet Laureate in 1668. His work spans a wide range of genres, including satire, religious poetry, plays, and translations. Dryden is known for his mastery of the heroic couplet and his influence on English poetry and drama. He became a master of the English language, shaping its development through his clear and powerful prose and verse. His work often reflects the political and religious turmoil of his time.

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Poems List

None are so busy as the fool and knave.

And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.

Dreams are but interludes that fancy makes... Sometimes forgotten things, long cast behind Rush forward in the brain, and come to mind.

Better shun the bait, then struggle in the snare.

The conscience of a people is their power.

We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.

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

Set all things in their own peculiar place, and know that order is the greatest grace.

Let grace and goodness be the principal loadstone of thy affections. For love which hath ends, will have an end; whereas that which is founded on true virtue, will always continue.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

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John Dryden was born on August 9, 1631, in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire. Educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, he became involved with the London literary scene in the mid-1650s. His career was marked by a remarkable ability to adapt to political changes, which earned him patronage and official positions. He became one of the most influential writers of his time, known for his incisive satires such as 'Mac Flecknoe' and his adaptations of classics. His work as a translator of Virgil and Ovid was also highly acclaimed. Dryden died on May 12, 1700, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His work continues to be studied and appreciated for its poetic beauty, wit, and historical insight.