Quotes by Francis Quarles

Proportion thy charity to the strength of thy estate, lest God proportion thy estate to the weakness of thy charity. Let the lips of the poor be the trumpet of thy gift, lest in seeking applause thou lose thy reward. Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand and a close mouth.

— Francis Quarles

Courage

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

Love

Other vices make their own way; this makes way for all vices. He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

Let the ground of all thy religious actions be obedience; examine not why it is commanded, but observe it because it is commanded. True obedience neither procrastinates nor questions.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

If thou desire the love of God and man, be humble; for the proud heart as it loves none but itself, so it is beloved of none but itself. The voice of humility is God's music, and the silence of humility is God's rhetoric. Humility enforces where neither virtue nor strength can prevail, nor reason.

— Francis Quarles

Love

'Tis to bewail the sins thou didst commit; And not commit those sins thou hast bewailed. He that bewails, and not forsakes them too, Confesses rather what he means to do.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

In having all things, and not Thee, what have I? Not having Thee, what have my labors got? Let me enjoy but Thee, what farther crave I? And having Thee alone, what have I not?

— Francis Quarles

Happiness

My mind's my kingdom.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

Beware of him that is slow to anger; for when it is long coming, it is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept. Abused patience turns to fury.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

The average person's ear weighs what you are, not what you were.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

If 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 Quarles

Love

Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.

— Francis Quarles

Courage

Has fortune dealt you some bad cards. Then let wisdom make you a good gamester.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

Be wisely worldly, but not worldly wise.

— Francis Quarles

Life

He that hath no cross deserves no crown.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

Let the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.

— Francis Quarles

Courage

Flatter not thyself in thy faith in God if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

And he repents in thorns that sleeps in beds of roses.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

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

Wisdom

Temper your enjoyments with prudence, lest there be written on your heart that fearful word 'satiety.'

— Francis Quarles

Love

That friendship will not continue to the end which is begun for an end.

— Francis Quarles

Friendship

Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.

— Francis Quarles

Life

The road to perseverance lies by doubt.

— Francis Quarles

Wisdom

The 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 Quarles

Love