Covetous ambition, thinking all too little which presently it hath, supposeth itself to stand in need of that which it hath not. Walter Raleigh More Quotes by Walter Raleigh More Quotes From Walter Raleigh It would be an unspeakable advantage, both to the public and private, if men would consider that great truth, that no man is wise or safe but he that is honest. Walter Raleigh honesty wise men Flatterers are the worst kind of traitors, for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so shadow and paint thy follies and vices as thou shalt never, by their will, discover good from evil, or vice from virtue. Walter Raleigh imperfection shadow evil It is the nature of men having escaped one extreme, which by force they were constrained long to endure, to run headlong into the other extreme, forgetting that virtue doth always consist in the mean. Walter Raleigh nature running mean Hatreds are the cinders of affection. Walter Raleigh definitions hate hatred Never spend anything before thou have it; for borrowing is the canker and death of every man's estate. Walter Raleigh borrowing estates men In a word, we may gather out of History a policy no less wise than I eternal; by the comparison and application of other mens fore-passed miseries with our own like errours and ill-deservings. Walter Raleigh wise may history There is nothing more becoming any wise man, than to make choice of friends, for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art: let them therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee for gain; but make election rather of thy betters, than thy inferiors. Walter Raleigh wise friendship art It is observed in the course of worldly things, that men's fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues; and more men's fortunes overthrown thereby than by vices. Walter Raleigh tongue vices men Who so desireth to know what will be hereafter, let him think of what is past, for the world hath ever been in a circular revolution; whatsoever is now, was heretofore; and things past or present, are no other than such as shall be again: Redit orbis in orbem. Walter Raleigh past world thinking No one can take less pains than to hold his tongue. Hear much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world. Walter Raleigh pain silence evil A wandering minstrel I A thing of shreds and patches Of ballads, songs and snatches And dreamy lullaby! Walter Raleigh patches journey song God is absolutely good; and so, assuredly, the cause of all that is good. Walter Raleigh good-god causes god Who so taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be. Walter Raleigh evil men hands The flowers do fade, and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning yields; A honey tongue, a heart of gall, Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall. Walter Raleigh flower spring fall What dependence can I have on the alleged events of ancient history, when I find such difficulty in ascertaining the truth regarding a matter that has taken place only a few minutes ago, and almost in my own presence! Walter Raleigh events taken matter I shall never be persuaded that God hath shut up all light of learning within the lantern of Aristotle's brain. Walter Raleigh shut-up light brain The best time for marriage will be towards thirty, for as the younger times are unfit, either to choose or to govern a wife and family, so, if thou stay long, thou shalt hardly see the education of thy children, who, being left to strangers, are in effect lost; and better were it to be unborn than ill-bred; for thereby thy posterity shall either perish, or remain a shame to thy name. Walter Raleigh wife names children The world is itself but a larger prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution. Walter Raleigh execution prison world Whoso desireth to govern well and securely, it behoveth him to have a vigilant eye to the proceedings of great princes, and to consider seriously of their designs. Walter Raleigh wells design eye Whosoever in writing a modern history shall follow the truth too near the heels it may haply strike out his teeth. Walter Raleigh teeth writing history
