Francis Quarles
Anger may repast with thee for an hour, but not repose for a night; the continuance of anger is hatred, the continuance of hatred turns malice.
Francis QuarlesNo cross no crown.
Francis QuarlesThe heart is a small thing, but desireth great matters. It is not sufficient for a kite's dinner, yet the whole world is not sufficient for it.
Francis QuarlesWisdom not only gets, but once got, retains.
Francis QuarlesIf thy words be too luxuriant, confine them, lest they confine thee. He that thinks he can never speak enough, may easily speak too much. A full tongue and an empty brain are seldom parted.
Francis QuarlesFlatter not thyself in thy faith in God if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor.
Francis QuarlesTemper your enjoyments with prudence, lest there be written on your heart that fearful word ''satiety.''
Francis QuarlesIf thou desire to purchase honor with thy wealth, consider first how that wealth became thine; if thy labor got it, let thy wisdom keep it; if oppression found it, let repentance restore it; if thy parent left it, let thy virtues deserve it; so shall thy honor be safer, better and cheaper.
Francis QuarlesLet the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.
Francis QuarlesBe very circumspect in the choice of thy company. In the society of thine equals thou shalt enjoy more pleasure; in the society of thy superiors thou shalt find more profit. To be the best in the company is the way to grow worse.
Francis QuarlesIf thou desire the love of God and man, be humble, for the proud heart, as it loves none but itself, is beloved of none but itself. Humility enforces where neither virtue, nor strength, nor reason can prevail.
Francis QuarlesRather do what is nothing in the purpose than to be idle, that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily shot when the fliers escape the fowler. Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all the virtues, and is the self-made sepulcher of a living man.
Francis QuarlesRead not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself. If thou find anything questionable there, use the commentary of a severe friend rather than the gloss of a sweet lipped flatterer; there is more profit in a distasteful truth than in deceitful sweetness.
Francis QuarlesI wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.
Francis QuarlesFear nothing but what thy industry may prevent; be confident of nothing but what fortune cannot defeat; it is no less folly to fear what is impossible to be avoided than to be secure when there is a possibility to be deprived.
Francis QuarlesAnd he repents in thorns that sleeps in beds of roses.
Francis QuarlesHe that hath no cross deserves no crown.
Francis QuarlesWickedness is its own punishment.
Francis Quarles
