The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber. Francis Quarles More Quotes by Francis Quarles More Quotes From Francis Quarles Diogenes found more rest in his tub than Alexander on his throne. Francis Quarles tubs thrones found Be not too slow in the breaking of a sinful custom; a quick, courageous resolution is better than a gradual deliberation; in such a combat he is the bravest soldier that lays about him without fear or wit. Wit pleads, fear disheartens; he that would kill Hydra had better strike off one neck than five heads: fell the tree, and the branches are soon cut off. Francis Quarles cutting soldier tree Think not thy love to God merits God's love to thee; His acceptance of thy duty crowns His own gifts in thee; man's love to God is nothing but a faint reflection of God's love to man. Francis Quarles acceptance reflection god Of all the difficulties in a state, the temper of a true government most felicifies and perpetuates it; too sudden alterations distemper it. Had Nero tuned his kingdom as he did his harp, his harmony had been more honorable, and his reign more prosperous. Francis Quarles nero government kingdoms There be three sorts of government--monarchical, aristocratical, democratical; and they are apt to fall three several ways into ruin--the first, by tyranny; the second, by ambition; the last, by tumults. A commonwealth grounded upon any one of these is not of long continuance; but, wisely mingled, each guards the other and makes that government exact. Francis Quarles government ambition fall If thou hast no inferiors, have patience awhile, and thou shalt have no superiors. The grave requires no marshal. Francis Quarles having-patience inferiors graves It is no happiness to live long, nor unhappiness to die soon; happy is he that hath lived long enough to die well. Francis Quarles enough happiness long Even as the needle that directs the hour, Francis Quarles wavering soul secret In thy apparel avoid singularity, profuseness, and gaudiness. Be not too early in the fashion, nor too late. Decency is half way between affectation and neglect. The body is the shell of the soul, apparel is the husk of that shell; the husk often tells you what the kernel is. Francis Quarles fashion soul too-late Mercy turns her back to the unmerciful. Francis Quarles turns mercy Money is both the generation and corruption of purchased honor; honor is both the child and slave of potent money: the credit which honor hath lost, money hath found. When honor grew mercenary, money grew honorable. The way to be truly noble is to contemn both. Francis Quarles money honor children Blessedness is promised to the peacemaker, not to the conqueror. Francis Quarles conqueror peacemaker peace In the height of thy prosperity expect adversity, but fear it not. If it come not, thou art the more sweetly possessed of the happiness thou hast, and the more strongly confirmed. If it come, thou art the more gently dispossessed of the happiness thou hadst, and the more firmly prepared. Francis Quarles adversity happiness art If opinion hath lighted the lamp of thy name, endeavor to encourage it with thy own oil, lest it go out and stink; the chronical disease of Popularity is shame; if thou be once up, beware; from fame to infamy is a beaten road. Francis Quarles lamps oil names When ambitious men find an open passage, they are rather busy than dangerous; and if well watched in their proceedings, they will catch them selves in their own snare, and prepare a way for their own destruction. Francis Quarles ambition self men Things temporal are sweeter in the expectation, things eternal are sweeter in the fruition; the first shames thy hope, the second crowns it; it is a vain journey, whose end affords less pleasure than the way. Francis Quarles fruition journey expectations Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt after it, it destroys thee. If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. It is the wise man's bonfire, and the fool's furnace. Francis Quarles wise heart beauty If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. Francis Quarles soul heart beauty Flatter not thyself in thy faith to God, if thou wantest charity for thy neighbor; and think not thou halt charity for thy neighbor, if thou wantest faith to God; where they are not both together, they are both wanting; they are both dead, if once divided. Francis Quarles charity together thinking To bear adversity with an equal mind is both the sign and glory of a brave spirit. Francis Quarles adversity brave mind
