Give not thy tongue too great a liberty, lest it take thee prisoner. A word unspoken is like thy sword in thy scabbard; if vented, the sword is in another?s hand.* If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue. Francis Quarles More Quotes by Francis Quarles More Quotes From Francis Quarles Borrow neither money nor time from your neighbor; both are of equal value. Francis Quarles valuesequalneighbor Fear 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 Quarles literatureworrymay Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune. Francis Quarles literaturefearaction My mind's my kingdom. Francis Quarles kingdomsmind Temper your enjoyments with prudence, lest there be written on your heart that fearful word 'satiety.' Francis Quarles literaturefearheart Charity feeds the poor, so does pride; charity builds an hospital, so does pride. In this they differ: charity gives her glory to God; pride takes her glory from man. Francis Quarles pridegivingmen 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 Quarles angerhatenight Let all thy joys be as the month of May,And all thy days be as a marriage day. Francis Quarles weddingblessingjoy Seest thou good days? Prepare for evil times. No summer but hath its winter. He never reaped comfort in adversity that sowed not in prosperity. Francis Quarles good-dayadversitysummer He that hath promised pardon on our repentance hat not promised life till we repent. Francis Quarles pardonrepentancehats Afflictions clarify the soul. Francis Quarles afflictionsoul Hath fortune dealt thee ill cards? let wisdom make thee a good gamester. In a fair gale, every fool may sail, but wise behavior in a storm commends the wisdom of a pilot; to bear adversity with an equal mind is both the sign and glory of a brave spirit. Francis Quarles adversitybravewise In giving of thy alms, inquire not so much into the person, as his necessity. God looks not so much upon the merits of him that requires, as into the manner of him that relieves; if the man deserve not, thou hast given it to humanity. Francis Quarles humanitygivingmen If thou neglectest thy love to thy neighbor, in vain thou professest thy love to God; for by thy love to God, the love to thy neighbor is begotten, and by the love to thy neighbor thy love to God is nourished. Francis Quarles vainneighborcharity Wouldst thou know the lawfulness of the action which thou desirest to undertake, let thy devotion recommend it to Divine blessing: if it be lawful, thou shalt perceive thy heart encouraged by thy prayer; if unlawful, thou shalt find thy prayer discouraged by thy heart. That action is not warrantable which either blushes to beg a blessing, or, having succeeded, dares not present a thanksgiving. Francis Quarles prayerblessingheart Demean thyself more warily in thy study than in the street. If thy public actions have a hundred witnesses, thy private have a thousand. The multitude looks but upon thy actions; thy conscience looks into them: the multitude may chance to excuse thee, if not acquit thee; thy conscience will accuse thee, if not condemn thee. Francis Quarles mayretirementlooks Before thou reprehend another, take heed thou art not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend. He that cleanses a blot with blotted fingers makes a greater blur. Francis Quarles blurfingersart The way to subject all things to thyself is to subject thyself to reason; thou shalt govern many, if reason govern thee. Wouldst thou be crowned the monarch of a little world? command thyself. Francis Quarles littleswayworld Reason can discover things only near,--sees nothing that's above her. Francis Quarles reason Be not too great a niggard in the commendations of him that professes thy own quality: if he deserve thy praise, thou hast discovered thy judgment; if not, thy modesty: honor either returns or reflects to the giver. Francis Quarles qualityreturnhonor
