Inspirational Quotes by Francis Quarles (English Religious Poet)

He repents on thorns that sleeps in beds of roses.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Luxury

He that takes time to resolve, gives leisure to deny, and warning to prepare.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Delay

He that gives all, though but little gives much; because God looks not to the quantity of the gift, but to the quality of the givers.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Generosity

Every man’s vanity ought to be his greatest shame, and every man’s folly ought to be his greatest secret.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Vanity

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
Topics: Philosophy

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
Topics: Love

Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Luxury

Let not thy table exceed the fourth part of thy revenue: let thy provision be solid, and not far fetched, fuller of substance than art: be wisely frugal in thy preparation, and freely cheerful in thy entertainment: if thy guests be right, it is enough; if not, it is too much: too much is a vanity; enough is a feast.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Appetite

Of all vices take heed of drunkenness. Other vices are but the fruits of disordered affections; this disorders, nay banishes reason.—Other vices but impair the soul; this demolishes her two chief acuities, the understanding and the will. Other vices make their own way; this makes way for all vices.—He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Drunkenness

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
Topics: Temptation

Be always less willing to speak than to hear; what thou hearest, thou receivest; what thou speakest thou givest.—It is more glorious to give, but more profitable to receive.
—Francis Quarles

Thou canst not rebuke in children what they see practised in thee.—Till reason be ripe, examples direct more than precepts.—Such as is thy behavior before thy children’s faces, such is theirs behind thy back.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Example

No cross no crown.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Victory

Heaven finds an ear when sinners find a tongue.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Heaven

Use law and physic only in cases of necessity; they that use them otherwise, abuse themselves into weak bodies and light purses: they are good remedies, bad recreations, but ruinous habits.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Law

He that discovers himself till he hath made himself master of his desires, lays himself open to his own ruin, and makes himself a prisoner to his own tongue.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Secrecy

If thou be strong enough to encounter with the times, keep thy station; if not, shift a foot to gain advantage of the times. He that acts a beggar to prevent a thief is never the poorer; it is a great part of wisdom sometimes to seem a fool.
—Francis Quarles

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
Topics: Hate, Hatred

The act is unjustifiable that either begs for a blessing, or, having succeeded gives no thanksgiving.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Action

Before undertaking any design weigh the story of thy action with the danger of the attempt.—If the glory outweigh the danger it is cowardice to neglect it; if the danger exceed the glory, it is rashness to attempt it; if the balances stand poised, let thine own genius cast them.
—Francis Quarles

Pleasures bring effeminacy, and effeminacy foreruns ruin; such conquests, without blood or sweat, do sufficiently revenge themselves upon their intemperate conquerors.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Excess

Wouldest thou not be thought a fool in another’s conceit, be not wise in thy own: he that trusts to his own wisdom, proclaims his own folly: he is truly wise, and shall appear so, that hath folly enough to be thought not worldly wise, or wisdom enough to see his own folly.
—Francis Quarles

Be very circumspect in the choice of thy company. In the society of thine equals thou shalt enjoy more pleasure; in the society of thy superiors thou shalt find more profit. To be the best in the company is the way to grow worse; the best means to grow better is to be the worst there.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Associates

Infamy is where it is received.—If thou art a mud wall, it will stick; if marble, it will rebound.—If thou storm, it is thine; if thou contemn it, it is his.
—Francis Quarles

Close thine ear against him that opens his mouth against another.—If thou receive not his words, they fly back and wound him.—If thou receive them, they flee forward and wound thee.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Slander

That friendship will not continue to the end which is begun for an end.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Friendship, Friends

Let all thy joys be as the month of May,
And all thy days be as a marriage day.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Blessings

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
Topics: Praise

Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Action, Fortune, Necessity, Secrets of Success

Heaven is never deaf but when man’s heart is dumb.
—Francis Quarles
Topics: Prayer

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