Alfred the Great quotes

Alfred the Great was a king of Wessex, celebrated for defending his kingdom against Viking invasions. His leadership contributed to the unification of England and the promotion of education and legal reform. He is remembered as one of the most influential and respected monarchs in English history. Here are 11 of his quotes:

Doom very evenly! Do not doom one doom to the rich; another to the poor! Nor doom one doom to your friend; another to your foe! (Alfred the Great)
He seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear. View quote
Alfred the Great
Geðenc hwelc witu us ða becomon for ðisse worulde, ða ða we hit nohwæðer ne selfe ne lufodon ne eac oðrum monnum ne lefdon! View quote
Alfred the Great
Ða ic ða gemunde hu sio Lar Lædengeðiodes ær ðissum afeallen wæs giond Angelcynn, ond ðeah monige cuðon Englisc gewrit arædan, ða ongan ic on gemang oðrum mislicum ond manigfealdum bisgum ðisses kynerices ða boc on Englisc ðe is genemned on Læden Pastoralis, ond on Englisc "Hierdeboc", hwilum word be worde, hwilum andgit of andgite. View quote
Alfred the Great
Þæt is nu hraðost to secganne, þæt ic wilnode weorðfullice to libbanne þa hwile þe ic lifede, and æfter minum life þæm monnum to læfanne þe æfter me wæren min gemyndig on godum weorcum. View quote
Alfred the Great
Me com swiðe oft on gemynd, hwelce wiotan iu wæron giond Angelcynn, ægðer ge godcundra hada ge woruldcundra; ond hu gesæliglica tida ða wæron giond Angelcynn; ond hu ða kyningas ðe ðone onwald hæfdon ðæs folces Gode ond his ærendwrecum hiersumedon; ond hie ægðer ge hiora sibbe ge hiora siodu ge hiora onweald innanbordes gehioldon, ond eac ut hiora eðel rymdon; ond hu him ða speow ægðer ge mid wige ge mid wisdome; ond eac ða godcundan hadas, hu giorne hie wæron ægðer ge ymb lare ge ymb liornunga, ge ymb ealle ða ðiowotdomas ðe hie Gode don scoldon; ond hu man utanbordes wisdom ond lare hieder on lond sohte; ond hu we hie nu sceoldon ute begietan, gif we hie habban sceoldon. View quote
Alfred the Great
As Alfred says, that learned king: "The hated man can't intercede; The angry man's not fit to plead." View quote
Alfred the Great
He that is shut out Is soon forgot within. View quote
Alfred the Great
For Alfred seide a wis word, euch mon hit schulde legge on hord: "3ef thu isihst er he beo icume, his strencþe is him wel neh binume." View quote
Alfred the Great
Never believe the speech of all men, nor all the things that you hear sung. View quote
Alfred the Great
Ne ches þe neuere to fere littele mon ne long ne red... Þe luttele mon he his so rei, ne mai non him wonin nei... Þe lonke mon is leþe bei, selde comid is herte rei... Þe rede mon he is a quet, for he wole þe þin iwil red he is cocker, þef and horeling, scolde, of wrechedome he is king... (Alfred the Great)