Oliver Cromwell

Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.

Now I see there is a people risen that I cannot win with gifts or honours, offices or places; but all other sects and people I can.

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

I would be willing to live and be farther serviceable to God and his people; but my work is done. Yet God will be with his people.

I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than undertook such a Government as this is.

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 …

You have accounted yourselves happy on being environed with a great ditch from all the world beside.

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.

And let God be judge between you and me.

We are Englishmen; that is one good fact.

I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at, or kneel to, but I have power and resolution for foes to tremble at.

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

I desire not to keep my place in this government an hour longer than I may preserve England in its just rights, and may protect the people of God in such a just liberty of their consciences...

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

In every government there must be somewhat fundamental, somewhat like a Magna Charta, that should be standing and unalterable... that parliaments should not make themselves perpetual is a fundamental.

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 …

Though peace be made, yet it's interest that keep peace.

God has brought us where we are, to consider the work we may do in the world, as well as at home.

You are as like the forming of God as ever people were... you are at the edge of promises and prophecies.

When I went there, I did not think to have done this. But perceiving the spirit of God so strong upon me, I would not consult flesh and blood.

The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is for aught I know, a crowning mercy.

I am neither heir nor executor to Charles Stuart.

No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.

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 …