No man's condition is so base as his; Francis Quarles More Quotes by Francis Quarles More Quotes From Francis Quarles Make philosophy thy journey, theology thy journey's end: philosophy is a pleasant way, but dangerous to him that either tires or retires; in this journey it is safe neither to loiter nor to rest, till thou hast attained thy journey's end; he that sits down a philosopher rises up an atheist. Francis Quarles atheistjourneyphilosophy Though virtue give a ragged livery, she gives a golden cognizance; if her service make thee poor, blush not. Thy poverty may disadvantage thee, but not dishonor thee. Francis Quarles povertymaygiving If thy words be too luxuriant, confine them, lest they confine thee; he that thinks he never can speak enough may easily speak too much. A full tongue and an empty brain are seldom parted. Francis Quarles braintalkingthinking When the flesh presents thee with delights, then present thyself with dangers; where the world possesses thee with vain hopes, there possess thyself with true fear; when the devil brings thee oil, bring thou vinegar. The way to be safe is never to be secure. Francis Quarles oildeviltemptation Be as far from desiring the popular love as fearful to deserve the popular hate; ruin dwells in both: the one will hug thee to death; the other will crush thee to destruction: to escape the first, be not ambitious; to avoid the second, be not seditious. Francis Quarles crushhatelove Other vices make their own way; this makes way for all vices. He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice. Francis Quarles intemperancevicesway The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable. Francis Quarles judgmentjudgingworld O who would trust this world, or prize what's in it, Francis Quarles give-and-takegivingworld Be very vigilant over thy child in the April of his understanding, lest the frost of May nip his blossoms. While he is a tender twig, straighten him; whilst he is a new vessel, season him; such as thou makest him, such commonly shall thou find him. Let his first lesson be obedience and his second shall be what thou wilt. Francis Quarles frostunderstandingchildren Poor thieves in halters we behold; Francis Quarles thievespoorgold Virtue is nothing but an act of loving that which is to be beloved, and that act is prudence, from whence not to be removed by constraint is fortitude; not to be allured by enticements is temperance; not to be diverted by pride is justice. Francis Quarles belovedpridejustice In the commission of evil, fear no man so much as thyself; another is but one witness against thee, thou art a thousand; another thou mayest avoid, thyself thou canst not. Wickedness is its own punishment. Francis Quarles evilmenart Be not too rash in the breaking of an inconvenient custom; as it was gotten, so leave it by degrees. Danger attends upon too sudden alterations; he that pulls down a bad building by the great may be ruined by the fall, but he that takes it down brick by brick may live to build a better. Francis Quarles degreesmayfall He that begins to live, begins to die. Francis Quarles dies If thy desire to raise thy fortunes encourage thy delights to the casts of fortune, be wise betimes, lest thou repent too late; what thou gettest, thou gainest by abused providence; what thou losest, thou losest by abused patience; what thou winnest is prodigally spent; what thou losest is prodigally lost; it is an evil trade that prodigally drives; and a bad voyage where the pilot is blind. Francis Quarles gamblingwiseevil Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily shot, when fliers scape the fowler. Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all the virtues, and the self-made sepulchre of a living man. Francis Quarles selfseamen Thy ignorance in unrevealed mysteries is the mother of a saving faith, and thy understanding in revealed truths is the mother of a sacred knowledge; understand not therefore that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand; understanding is the wages of a lively faith and faith is the reward of an humble ignorance. Francis Quarles humblemotherbelieve Afflictions clarify the soul; Francis Quarles soulagegiving When two agree in their desire, Francis Quarles firedesiretwo Diogenes found more rest in his tub than Alexander on his throne. Francis Quarles tubsthronesfound
