Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
I am no herald to inquire into men's pedigree; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.
Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to cease reasoning on things above reason.
Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?
With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face!
Often extraordinary excellence, not being rightly conceived, does rather offend than please.
The day seems long, but night is odious; no sleep, but dreams; no dreams but visions strange.
Self-love is better than any gilding to make that seem gorgeous wherein ourselves be parties.
Liking is not always the child of beauty; but whatsoever is liked, to the liker is beautiful.
Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.
Who doth desire that chaste his wife should be, first be he true, for truth doth truth deserve.
The scourge of life, and death's extreme disgrace, The smoke of hell,--that monster called Paine.
A brave captain is as a root, out of which, as branches, the courage of his soldiers doth spring.
It is a lively spark of nobleness to descend in most favour to one when he is lowest in affliction
Truth is the ground of science, the centre wherein all things repose, and is the type of eternity.
Reason! how many eyes hast thou to see evils, and how dim, nay, blind, thou art in preventing them.
What is birth to a man if it shall be a stain to his dead ancestors to have left such an offspring?
A dull head thinks of no better way to show himself wise, than by suspecting everything in his way.
The ingredients of health and long life, are great temperance, open air, easy labor, and little care.
As the fertilest ground, must be manured, so must the highest flying wit have a Daedalus to guide him.
Lovely sweetness is the noblest power of woman, and is far fitter to prevail by parley than by battle.
Indeed, the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers roll.
Fearfulness, contrary to all other vices, maketh a man think the better of another, the worse of himself.
Indeed, the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers' roll.
In the performance of a good action, we not only benefit ourselves, but we confer a blessing upon others.
It many times falls out that we deem ourselves much deceived in others because we first deceived ourselves.
Happiness is a sunbeam, which may pass though a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray.
Every present occasion will catch the senses of the vain man; and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.
It is the nature of the strong heart, that like the palm tree it strives ever upwards when it is most burdened.
Alexander received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles, than by hearing the definition of fortitude.
You will never live to my age without you keep yourselves in breath with exercise, and in heart with joyfulness.
A just cause and a zealous defender make an imperious resolution cut off the tediousness of cautious discussions.
There needs not strength to be added to inviolate chastity; the excellency of the mind makes the body impregnable.
There is nothing so great that I fear to do it for my friend; nothing so small that I will disdain to do it for him.
There is nothing sooner overthrows a weak head than opinion by authority, like too strong a liquor for a frail glass.
Unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying; but impossible desires are punished in the desire itself.
Like the air-invested heron, great persons should conduct themselves; and the higher they be, the less they should show.
Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.
For the uttering sweetly and properly the conceit of the mind, English hath it equally with any other tongue in the world.
There is no dearth of charity in the world in giving, but there is comparatively little exercised in thinking and speaking.
Men are almost always cruel in their neighbors' faults; and make others' overthrow the badge of their own ill-masked virtue.
It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.
With a tale, forsooth, he cometh unto you; with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner.
Take thou of me, sweet pillowes, sweetest bed; A chamber deafe of noise, and blind of light, A rosie garland and a weary hed.
There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.
As the love of the heavens makes us heavenly, the love of virtue virtuous, so doth the love of the world make one become worldly.
Who will ever give counsel, if the counsel be judged by the event, and if it be not found wise, shall therefore be thought wicked?
Weigh not so much what men assert, as what they prove. Truth is simple and naked, and needs not invention to apparel her comeliness.
Since bodily strength is but a servant to the mind, it were very barbarous and preposterous that force should be made judge over reason.
The observances of the church concerning feasts and fasts are tolerably well kept, since the rich keep the feasts and the poor the fasts.
I willingly confess that it likes me better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature.