Men are but children of a larger growth, Our appetites as apt to change as theirs, And full as craving too, and full as vain.
God never made his work for man to mend.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the work of God is perfect and does not require human intervention or alteration.
John Dryden's quote implies that the creations and natural order set by God are inherently complete and perfect, emphasizing a belief in divine perfection and the idea that human efforts to change or improve upon what is already created can be futile. It reflects a philosophical viewpoint on the relationship between humanity and the divine, suggesting that humans should accept and admire God's work rather than attempt to 'mend' or alter it.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote by John Dryden can be used in a discussion about the nature of existence and acceptance in philosophy classes.
More from John Dryden
All quotes →Of no distemper, of no blast he died, _x000D_ But fell like autumn fruit that mellow'd long: _x000D_ Even wonder'd at, because he dropp'd no sooner. _x000D_ Fate seem'd to wind him up for fourscore years; _x000D_ Yet freshly ran he on ten winters more; _x000D_ Till like a clock worn out with eating time, _x000D_ The wheels of weary life at last stood still.
Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
Shame on the body for breaking down while the spirit perseveres.
Love reckons hours for months, and days for years; and every little absence is an age.
And write whatever Time shall bring to pass_x000D_ _x000D_ With pens of adamant on plates of brass.
Similar quotes
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It struck me as I listened to those two men that a truer nomination (name) for our species than Homo sapiens might be Homo narrans, the storytelling person. What differentiates us from animals is the fact that we can listen to other people’s dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, desires and defeats–and they in turn can listen to ours.
Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.
An honest private man often grows cruel and abandoned when converted into an absolute prince. Give a man power of doing what he pleases with impunity, you extinguish his fear, and consequently overturn in him one of the great pillars of morality.
For white men, to live is to own, or to try to own more, or to die trying to own more. Their appetites are astonishing! They own wardrobes, slaves, carriages, houses, warehouses, and ships. They own ports, cities, plantations, valleys, mountains, chains of islands. They own this world, its jungles, its skies, and its seas. Yet they complain that Dejima is a prison. They complain they are not free.