Matthew Prior Quotes

Matthew Prior was an English poet and diplomat. He is also known as a contributor to The Examiner.

✵ 21. July 1664 – 18. September 1721
Matthew Prior photo
Matthew Prior: 23 quotes1 like

Famous Matthew Prior Quotes

“They never taste who always drink;
They always talk who never think.”

Matthew Prior

Upon a passage in the Scaligerana; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“All jargon of the schools.”

Matthew Prior

I am that I am, An Ode; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“Odds life! must one swear to the truth of a song?”

Matthew Prior

A Better Answer; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“Abra was ready ere I called her name;
And though I called another, Abra came.”

Matthew Prior

Solomon on the Vanity of the World, book ii, line 364; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“The end must justify the means.”

Matthew Prior

Hans Carvel (1700).

“That air and harmony of shape express,
Fine by degrees, and beautifully less.”

Matthew Prior

Henry and Emma; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

Matthew Prior Quotes

“From ignorance our comfort flows.
The only wretched are the wise.”

Matthew Prior

To the Honorable Charles Montague (1692).

“Forbear to mention what thou canst not praise.”

Matthew Prior

Carmen Seculare http://books.google.com/books?id=gtYWAAAAQAAJ&q="Forbear+to+mention+what+thou+canst+not+praise"&pg=PA157#v=onepage (1700).

“A Rechabite poor Will must live,
And drink of Adam's ale.”

Matthew Prior

The Wandering Pilgrim.; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“His noble negligences teach
What others' toils despair to reach.”

Matthew Prior

Alma, Canto II, l. 7 (1718).

“Venus, take my votive glass;
Since I am not what I was,
What from this day I shall be,
Venus, let me never see.”

Matthew Prior

The Lady Who Offers Her Looking-Glass to Venus (1718).

“For hope is but the dream of those that wake.”

Matthew Prior

Solomon on the Vanity of the World, book iii, line 102; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“Till their own dreams at length decive 'em,
And oft repeating, they believe 'em.”

Matthew Prior

Alma, Canto III, l. 13 (1718).

“Who breathes must suffer, and who thinks must mourn;
And he alone is bless'd who ne'er was born.”

Matthew Prior

Solomon on the Vanity of the World, book iii, line 240; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“He ranged his tropes, and preached up patience;
Backed his opinion with quotations.”

Matthew Prior

Paulo Purganti and His Wife (1708).

“Cured yesterday of my disease,
I died last night of my physician.”

Matthew Prior

The Remedy Worse than the Disease (1714).

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