Francis Quarles

Let the greatest part of the news thou hearest be the least part of what thou believest, lest the greater part of what thou believest be the least part of what is true. Where lies are easily admitted the father of lies will not easily be …

Anger, when it is long in coming, is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept.

Let the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it: He that fears otherwise, gives advantage to the danger.

It is the lot of man but once to die.

The next way home's the farthest way about.

The road to resolution lies by doubt: The next way home's the farthest way about.

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

Be wisely worldly, be not worldly wise.

We spend our midday sweat, our midnight oil; We tire the night in thought, the day in toil.

Sweet Phosphor, bring the day Whose conquering ray May chase these fogs; Sweet Phosphor, bring the day! Sweet Phosphor, bring the day! Light will repay

This house is to be let for life or years; Her rent is sorrow, and her income tears. Cupid, 't has long stood void; her bills make known, She must be dearly let, or let alone.

In having all things, and not Thee, what have I? Not having Thee, what have my labors got? Let me enjoy but Thee, what farther crave I? And having Thee alone, what have I not?

Death aims with fouler spite At fairer marks.

The world's an Inn; and I her guest.

Let all thy joys be as the month of May And all thy days be as a marriage day: Let sorrow, sickness, and a troubled mind Be stranger to thee.

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

Thou art my life, my way, my light

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.

He that loves thee, He that keeps And guards thee, never slumbers, never sleeps.

Reason can discover Things only near; sees nothing that's above her.

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

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

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

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