Francis Quarles quotes

Francis Quarles was an English poet best known for his religious and emblematic verse. His most famous work, "Emblems," combined poetry with intricate illustrations, offering moral and spiritual lessons. He influenced the devotional literature of his time and is remembered for his distinctive style and piety. Here are 61 of his quotes:

It is the lot of man but once to die.

Francis Quarles

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

Francis Quarles

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

And what's a life? A weary pilgrimage, Whose glory in one day doth fill the stage With childhood, manhood, and decrepit age.

Francis Quarles

No man is born unto himself alone Who lives unto himself, he lives to none.

Francis Quarles

My soul, sit thou a patient looker-on Judge not the play before the play is done Her plot hath many changes every day Speaks a new scene the last act crowns the play.

Francis Quarles

Even such is man, whose glory lendsHis life a blaze or two, and ends.

Francis Quarles

Sweet Phosphor, bring the dayWhose conquering rayMay chase these fogs;Sweet Phosphor, bring the day!Sweet Phosphor, bring the day!Light will repayThe wrongs of night;Sweet Phosphor, bring the day!

Francis Quarles

Death aims with fouler spiteAt fairer marks.

Francis Quarles

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

Francis Quarles

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

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

Francis Quarles

The slender debt to Nature's quickly paid,Discharged, perchance, with greater ease than made.

Francis Quarles

Put off thy cares with thy clothes; so shall thy rest strengthen thy labor, and so thy labor sweeten thy rest.

Francis Quarles

Shine Son of glory, and my sinnes are gone Like twinkling Starres before the rising Sunne.

Francis Quarles

The way to bliss lies not on beds of down, And he that has no cross deserves no crown.

Francis Quarles

The next way home's the farthest way about.

Francis Quarles

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

Francis Quarles

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

The road to perseverance lies by doubt.

Francis Quarles

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

Francis Quarles

Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself. If thou find anything questionable there, use the commentary of a severe friend, rather than the gloss of a sweet-lipped flatterer there is more profit in a distasteful truth than in deceitful sweetness.

Francis Quarles