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John Denham
20 quotes
“I conceive it is a vulgar error in translating poets, to affect being fidus interpres... [for] poetry is of so subtile a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another, it will all evaporate; and if a new spirit be not added in the transfusion, there will remain nothing but a caput mortuum, there being certain graces and happinesses peculiar to every language, which give life and energy to the words... therefore if Virgil must needs speak English, it were fit he should speak not only as a man of this nation, but as man of this age.”
John Denham (1615–1669) first seen 1656 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Destruction of Troy (1656), Preface
“But whither am I strayed? I need not raise Trophies to thee from other men's dispraise; Nor is thy fame on lesser ruins built; Nor needs thy juster title the foul guilt Of Eastern kings, who, to secure their reign, Must have their brothers, sons, and kindred slain.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On Mr. John Fletcher's Works. Compare: "Poets are sultans, if they had their will; For every author would his brother kill", Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, Prologues (republished in Dramatic Works, 1739); "Should such…
Also quoted by: Sir John Denham
“Actions o' th' last age are like almanacks o' th' last year.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ambition is like love, impatient Both of delays and rivals.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Whatsoever Is worthy of their love, is worth their anger.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But wealth is crime enough to him that's poor.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Though with those streams he no resemblance hold, Whose foam is amber and their gravel gold; His genuine and less guilty wealth t' explore, Search not his bottom, but survey his shore.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Sir John Denham
“Oh, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; Strong without rage; without o'erflowing, full.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Sir John Denham
“Variety, which all the rest endears.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[U]ncertain ways unsafest are.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Such is our pride, our folly, or our fate, That few but such as cannot write, translate.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nor ought a genius less than his that writ Attempt translation.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That servile path thou nobly dost decline Of tracing word by word, and line by line; A new and nobler way thou dost pursue To make translations, and translators too; They but preserve the ashes, thou the flame, True to his sense, but truer to his fame.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wisdom's first progress is to take a view What's decent or indecent, false or true.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Books should to one of these four ends conduce, For wisdom, piety, delight, or use.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When any great design thou dost intend, Think of the means, the manner, and the end.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Search not to find how other men offend, But by that glass thy own offences mend; Still seek to learn, yet care not much from whom, (So it be learning) or from whence it come. Of thy own actions, others' judgments learn; Often by small, great matters we discern: Youth what man's age is like to be doth show; We may our ends by our beginnings know.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let not the pleasing many thee delight, First judge if those whom thou dost please judge right.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Search not to find what lies too deeply hid, Nor to know things whose knowledge is forbid; Nor climb on pyramids, which thy head turn round Standing, and whence no safe descent is found.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wisdom of what herself approves makes choice, Nor is led captive by the common voice. Clear-sighted Reason Wisdom's judgment leads, And Sense, her vassal, in her footsteps treads. That thou to Truth the perfect way may'st know, To thee all her specific forms I'll show: He that the way to honesty will learn, First what's to be avoided must discern. Thyself from flatt'ring self-conceit defend, Nor what thou dost not know to know pretend. Some secrets deep in abstruse darkness lie: To search them thou wilt need a piercing eye. Not rashly therefore to such things assent, Which, undeceived, thou after may'st repent; Study and time in these must thee instruct, And others' old experience may conduct. Wisdom herself her ear doth often lend To counsel offer'd by a faithful friend.”
John Denham (1615–1669) said by 1669 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source