Thomas Fuller (1608–61) was an English scholar, preacher, and one of the most humorous and prolific authors of the 17th century.
Born in Aldwinkle St Peter’s, Northamptonshire, Fuller studied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and became prebendary of Salisbury in 1631 and rector of Broadwindsor, Dorset, in 1634.
Fuller’s witty and popular style won him an excellent reputation. Of his historical writings, the most famous are his Church-History of Britain (1655) and his Worthies of England (posthumous, 1662.) He worked on both of these for a significant part of his life, collecting some of his material during his campaigns with the royalist forces in the Civil War.
Fuller’s most famous work is The Holy State and the Profane State (1642,) an engaging collection of character sketches illuminating the Christian moral ideal. He also wrote a History of the Holy War (1639) on the Crusades, besides other works.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thomas Fuller
No one can lay himself under obligation to do a wrong thing. Pericles, when one of his friends asked his services in an unjust cause, excused himself, saying, “lama friend only as far as the altar.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Friendship
Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Gratitude
A wise man turns chance into good fortune.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Fortune, Luck, Chance
‘Tis better that thou be rather something sparing, than very liberal, to even a good servant; for as he grows full, he inclines either to be idle, or to leave thee: and if he should at any time murmur, thou mayest govern him by a seasonable reward.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Servants
He that handles a nettle tenderly is soonest stung.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Courage
Rashness is the faithful but unhappy parent of misfortune.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Misfortunes, Fortune
An index is a necessary implement, without which a large author is but a labyrinth without a clue to direct the readers within.
—Thomas Fuller
A proverb is much matter decocted into a few words.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Proverbs, Proverbial Wisdom, Words
No garden is without its weeds.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Gardening, One liners
Marshall thy notions into a handsome method.—One will carry twice more weight packed up in bundles, than when it lies flapping and hanging about his shoulders.
—Thomas Fuller
Nothing sharpens sight like envy.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Envy
A man surprised is half beaten.
—Thomas Fuller
Let thy carriage be friendly, but not foolishly free; an unwary openness causeth contempt, but a little reservedness, respect; and handsome courtesy, kindness.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Manners
Despair gives courage to a coward.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Courage, Despair
Nothing is easy to the unwilling.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Willpower, Will Power, Will
Good clothes open all doors.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Dress, Fashion
Change of weather is the discourse of fools.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: One liners, Weather
Better fare hard with good men than feast with bad.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Friendship
All commend patience, but none can endure to suffer.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Patience
Haste and rashness are storms and tempests, breaking and wrecking business; but nimbleness is a full, fair wind, blowing it with speed to the haven.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Haste
A generous confession disarms slander.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Slander, Insults
Memory is like a purse, if it be over-full that it cannot shut, all will drop out of it. Take heed of a gluttonous curiosity to feed on many things, lest the greediness of the appetite of thy memory spoil the digestion thereof.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Memory
If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so, too.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Desires, Blessings, Fear, Greed, Appreciation, Desire, Gratitude
For a wife take the daughter of a good mother.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Wife
If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Goals, Aspirations
A few Books well chosen, and well made use of will be more profitable than a great confused Alexandrian library.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Libraries
He that falls into sin is a man, that grieves at it is a saint, that boasteth of it is a devil; yet some glory in that shame, counting the stains of sin the best complexion of their souls.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Sin
Hope is worth any money.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Hope
Scoff not at the natural defects of any which are not in their power to amend. It is cruel to beat a cripple with his own crutches!
—Thomas Fuller
Nature hath appointed the twilight, as a bridge, to pass us out of night into day.
—Thomas Fuller
A wise man will make tools of what comes to hand.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Wisdom
Thou must content thyself to see the world imperfect as it is. Thou wilt never have any quiet if thou vexest thyself because thou canst not bring mankind to that exact notion of things and rule of life which thou hast formed in thy own mind.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: World
Jars concealed are half reconciled; but if generally known, it is a double task to stop the breach at home and men’s mouths abroad.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Quarrels
We have all forgot more than we remember.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Memory
God makes, and apparel shapes: but ’tis money that finishes the man.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Money
Poor men’s reasons are not heard.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Poverty
Amendment is repentance.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Forgiveness
It the best to be with those in time, that we hope to be with in eternity.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Associates
One may miss the mark by aiming too high as too low.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Aspirations, Goals
Anger is one of the sinews of the soul; he that wants it hath a maimed mind.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Anger
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