Matthew Prior
14 quotes
Biography
Matthew Prior was an English poet, statesman, and diplomat, who played a crucial role in securing the Treaties of Utrecht, serving as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1712 to 1715. He is also known as a contributor to The Examiner.
"Hope is but the dream of those who wake."
"The end must justify the means."
"Forbear to mention what thou canst not praise."
"All jargon of the schools."
"Odds life! must one swear to the truth of a song?"
"Fantastic tyrant of the amorous heart. How hard thy yoke, how cruel thy dart. Those escape your anger who refuse your sway, and those are punished most, who most obey."
"For, when with beauty we can virtue join, We paint the semblance of a form divine."
"Hopes are but the dreams of those that wake."
"And hope is but a dream of those that wake."
"Who breathes must suffer, and who thinks must mourn; And he alone is bless'd who ne'er was born."
"Hope is but the dream of those that wake."
"He's half absolv'd Who has confess'd."
"They never taste who always drink They always talk who never think."
"Similes are like songs of love: They much describe they nothing prove."