Oliver Cromwell quotes

Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who played a central role in the English Civil War. His leadership helped overthrow the monarchy and establish the Commonwealth of England. He became Lord Protector, ruling the country as a republic until his death. Here are 58 of his quotes:

Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.

Oliver Cromwell

I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.

Oliver Cromwell

God made them as stubble to our swords.

Oliver Cromwell

No man rises so high as he knows not whither he goes.

Oliver Cromwell

A few honest men are better than numbers.

Oliver Cromwell

Those who stop being better stop being good.

Oliver Cromwell

I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a Gentle-man and is nothing else.

Oliver Cromwell

I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, and to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken this government.

Oliver Cromwell

We are Englishmen; that is one good fact.

Oliver Cromwell

Necessity has no law.

Oliver Cromwell

Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities . . . are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.

Oliver Cromwell

We study the glory of God, and the honour and liberty of parliament, for which we unanimously fight, without seeking our own interests... I profess I could never satisfy myself on the justness of this war, but from the authority of the parliament to maintain itself in its rights; and in this cause I hope to prove myself an honest man and single-hearted.

Oliver Cromwell

Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.

Oliver Cromwell

Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy, to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition that he may abuse it.

Oliver Cromwell

Men have been led in dark paths, through the providence and dispensation of God. Why, surely it is not to be objected to a man, for who can love to walk in the dark? But providence doth often so dispose.

Oliver Cromwell

That which brought me into the capacity I now stand in, was the Petition and Advice given me by you, who, in reference to the ancient Constitution, did draw me here to accept the place of Protector. There is not a man living can say I sought it, no not a man, nor woman, treading upon English ground.

Oliver Cromwell

We will cut off his (the king's) head with the crown on it.

Oliver Cromwell

There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental... about which I shall deal plainly with you... the government by a single person and a parliament is a fundamental... and... though I may seem to plead for myself, yet I do not: no, nor can any reasonable man say it... I plead for this nation, and all the honest men therein.

Oliver Cromwell

I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation - to serve in parliaments, - and ( because I would not be over tedious ) I did endeavour to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to God, and his people's interest, and of the commonwealth; having, when time was, a competent acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence thereof.

Oliver Cromwell

You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.

Oliver Cromwell

Weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.

Oliver Cromwell

It is not my design to drink or to sleep, but my design is to make what haste I can to be gone.

Oliver Cromwell