FQFrancis Quarles

134 collected words

Francis Quarles

Life dates: 1592 AD — 1644 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

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Quotations and sayings

01c. 1618 AD

A monarchy is apt to fall by tyranny; an aristocracy, by ambition; a democracy, by tumults.

Francis Quarles / quote

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02c. 1618 AD

Anger, when it is long in coming, is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept.

Francis Quarles / quote

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03c. 1618 AD

As there is no worldly gain without some loss, so there is no worldly loss without some gain.

Francis Quarles / quote

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04c. 1618 AD

But wouldst thou know what's heaven? I'll tell thee what: / Think what thou canst not think, and heaven is that.

Francis Quarles / quote

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05c. 1618 AD

Convey thy love to thy friend as an arrow to the mark; not as a ball against the wall, to rebound back again.

Francis Quarles / quote

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06c. 1618 AD

Demean thyself more warily in thy study than in the street. If thy public actions have a hundred witnesses, thy private have a thousand.

Francis Quarles / quote

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07c. 1618 AD

Falls have their risings, wanings have their primes, / And desperate sorrows wait for better times.

Francis Quarles / quote

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08c. 1618 AD

Fear not where Heaven bids come; / Heaven's never deaf but when man's heart is dumb.

Francis Quarles / quote

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09c. 1618 AD

God is alpha and omega in the great world; endeavour to make Him so in the little world.

Francis Quarles / quote

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10c. 1618 AD

He is below himself who is not above an injury.

Francis Quarles / quote

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11c. 1618 AD

He that hath but gained the title of a jester, let him assure himself the fool is not far off.

Francis Quarles / quote

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12c. 1618 AD

Heaven is never deaf but when man's heart is dumb.

Francis Quarles / quote

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13c. 1618 AD

Heav'n finds an ear when sinners find a tongue.

Francis Quarles / quote

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14c. 1618 AD

Hold up thy head; the taper lifted high / Will brook the wind when lower tapers die.

Francis Quarles / quote

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15c. 1618 AD

If thou deniest to a laborious man and a deserving, thou killest a bee; if thou givest to other than such, thou preservest a drone.

Francis Quarles / quote

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16c. 1618 AD

In a fair gale every fool may sail, but wise behaviour in a storm commends the wisdom of the pilot.

Francis Quarles / quote

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17c. 1618 AD

It is but vain to waste honey on those that will be caught with gall.

Francis Quarles / quote

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18c. 1618 AD

Judge not the play before the play is done; / Her plot has many changes; every day / Speaks a new scene; the last act crowns the play.

Francis Quarles / quote

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19c. 1618 AD

Knowledge descries alone, wisdom applies; / That makes some fools, this maketh none but wise.

Francis Quarles / quote

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20c. 1618 AD

Knowledge, when wisdom is too weak to guide her, / Is like a headstrong horse that throws the rider.

Francis Quarles / quote

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21c. 1618 AD

Let those have night that love the night.

Francis Quarles / quote

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22c. 1618 AD

Meditation is the life of the soul; action, the soul of meditation; honour, the reward of action.

Francis Quarles / quote

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23c. 1618 AD

My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. / Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. / What's lighter than the mind? A thought. Than thought? / This bubble world. What than this bubble? Nought.

Francis Quarles / quote

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24c. 1618 AD

Of more than earth can earth make none possesst; / And he that least / Regards this restless world, shall in this world find rest.

Francis Quarles / quote

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