Walter Raleigh Quotes:

Talking much is a sign of vanity, for the one who is lavish with words is cheap in deeds.

Topics: Vanity, Talking, Deeds, Talk Is Cheap, Talking Much

But from this earth, this grave, this dust, My God shall raise me up, I trust.

source: - Sir Henry Wotton, Sir Walter Raleigh (1815). “Poems”, p.75

Topics: Easter, Dust, Earth, Kids Easter, Christian Easter

If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee, and be thy love.

source: - 'Answer to Marlow'

Topics: Life, Moving, World, World And Love

It is the nature of men having escaped one extreme, which by force they were constrained long to endure, to run headlong into the other extreme, forgetting that virtue doth always consist in the mean.

Topics: Running, Mean, Men

Hatreds are the cinders of affection.

Topics: Hatred, Affection

Remember, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which perchance will neither last nor please thee one year; and when thou hast it, it will be to thee of no price at all; for the desire dieth when it is attained, and the affection perisheth when it is satisfied.

Topics: Memories, Years, Desire

So the heart be right, it is no matter which way the head lieth.

source: - At his execution, on being asked which way he preferred to lay his head, in William Stebbing 'Sir Walter Raleigh' (1891) ch. 30

Topics: Heart, Way, Matter, Famous Last Words

This is a sharp medicine, but it is a physician for all diseases and miseries.

Topics: Medicine, Disease, Physicians

It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are recovered, but a drunkard will never shake off the delight of beastliness.

Topics: Men, Vanity, Delight, Drunkards

The longer it possesseth a man the more he will delight in it, and the older he groweth the more he shall be subject to it; for it dulleth the spirits, and destroyeth the body as ivy doth the old tree, or as the worm that engendereth in the kernal of the nut.

Topics: Men, Nuts, Ivy, Old Trees

The difference between a rich man and a poor man is this--the former eats when he pleases, and the latter when he can get it.

Topics: Men, Differences, Eating, Rich Man, Poor Man

It is plain there is not in nature a point of stability to be found; everything either ascends or declines; when wars are ended abroad, sedition begins at home; and when men are freed from fighting for necessity, they quarrel through ambition.

Topics: War, Ambition, Home

If thou marry beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which, perchance, will neither last nor please thee one year.

Topics: Beauty, Years, Lasts

Our souls, piercing through the impurity of flesh, behold the highest heaven, and thence bring knowledge to contemplate the ever-during, glory and termless joy.

Topics: Joy, Heaven, Soul

Because all men are apt to flatter themselves, to entertain the addition of other men's praises is most perilous.

Topics: Men, Flattery, Praise

Flatterers are the worst kind of traitors, for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so shadow and paint thy follies and vices as thou shalt never, by their will, discover good from evil, or vice from virtue.

Topics: Evil, Imperfection, Shadow, Flatterer

The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well: Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George's glorious days!

Topics: Kings, War, House, Good Kings

Expressive glances Shall be our lances And pops of Sillery Our light artillery.

Topics: Light, Pops, Glances, Artillery

Oh, doughty sons of Hungary! May all success Attend and bless Your warlike ironmongery!

Topics: Son, May, Bless, Hungary

A wandering minstrel I A thing of shreds and patches Of ballads, songs and snatches And dreamy lullaby!

Topics: Song, Journey, Patches, Minstrels, Lullaby

Covetous ambition, thinking all too little which presently it hath, supposeth itself to stand in need of that which it hath not.

Topics: Ambition, Thinking, Littles

Never spend anything before thou have it; for borrowing is the canker and death of every man's estate.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1751). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh: Kt. Political, Commercial, and Philosophical; Together with His Letters and Poems. The Whole Never Before Collected Together, and Some Never Yet Printed. To which is Prefix'd, a New Account of His Life by Tho. Birch”, p.351

Topics: Men, Estates, Borrowing

Corrupt seeds bring forth corrupt plants.

Topics: Plant

I shall never be persuaded that God hath shut up all light of learning within the lantern of Aristotle's brain.

source: - 1614 The History of theWorld.

Topics: Light, Brain, Shut Up, Lantern Light

It is, it is a glorious thing To be a Pirate King.

Topics: Kings, Pirate, Glorious

Whoever commands the sea, commands the trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.

Topics: Sea, Navy, World

It is not truth, but opinion that can travel the world without a passport.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The history of the world”, p.3

Topics: World, Opinion, Travel The World

Better it were not to live than to live a coward.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: The life of Sir Walter Ralegh, by William Oldys. The life of Sir Walter Ralegh, by Tho. Birch”, p.360

Topics: Coward, Cowardice

Youth is the opportunity to do something and to be somebody.

Topics: Opportunity, Youth

Our bodies are but the anvils of pain and disease and our minds the hives of unnumbered cares.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt., Now First Collected: -7. The history of the world”, p.54

Topics: Life, Pain, Mind

Divine is Love and scorneth worldly pelf, And can be bought with nothing but with self.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.715

Topics: Life, Self, Divine

To live thy better, let thy worst thoughts die.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, “The Crosse Of Christ”

Topics: Worst, Dies

But true love is a durable fire, In the mind ever burning, Never sick, never old, never dead, From itself never turning.

source: - Walter Raleigh, Henry Wotton, J. Hannah (1929). “The Poems of Sir Walter Raleigh”, p.81, Рипол Классик

Topics: Love, Romantic, Wedding, True Love Is, Teddy

The world is itself but a larger prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution.

source: - "The discovery of the large, rich, and beautiful empire of Guiana".

Topics: World, Execution, Prison

The useful type of successful teacher is one whose main interest is the children, not the subject.

Topics: Teacher, Children, Teaching

No one is wise or safe, but they that are honest.

Topics: Wise, Honesty, Safety

[It is a basic principle of a tyrant] to unarm his people of weapons, money and all means whereby they resist his power.

Topics: Mean, Tyrants, People

Prevention is the daughter of intelligence.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.660

Topics: Daughter, Prevention, Prudence

Trust few men; above all, keep your follies to yourself.

Topics: Trust, Men, Folly, Self Trust

The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, the fourth for madness.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: Miscellaneous works”, p.568

Topics: Drinking, Beer, Alcohol, Draught

Desire attained is not desire, But as the cinders of the fire.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (2015). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Sir Walter Raleigh (Illustrated)”, p.37, Delphi Classics

Topics: Fire, Desire

Even such is time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with age and dust.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1848). “The Discovery of the Large, Rich, and Beautiful Empire of Guiana: With a Relation of the Great and Golden City of Manoa... Etc. Performed in the Year 1595, by Sir W. Ralegh, Knt... Reprinted from the Edition of 1596, with Some Unpublished Documents Relative to that Country. Ed., with Copious Explanatory Notes and a Biographical Memoir, by Sir Robert H. Schomburgk”, p.223

Topics: Time, Dust, Joy

No one can take less pains than to hold his tongue. Hear much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world.

Topics: Pain, Evil, Silence

All men are evil and will declare themselves to be so when occasion is offered.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.95

Topics: Men, Evil, Occasions

Passions are likened best to floods and streams: The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1751). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh: Kt. Political, Commercial, and Philosophical; Together with His Letters and Poems. The Whole Never Before Collected Together, and Some Never Yet Printed. To which is Prefix'd, a New Account of His Life by Tho. Birch”, p.394

Topics: Music, Rain, Passion

Hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.

source: - 'The History of the World' (1614) preface

Topics: Eternity

The most divine light only shineth on those minds which are purged from all worldly dross and human uncleanliness.

Topics: Light, Grace, Mind, Divine Light

What dependence can I have on the alleged events of ancient history, when I find such difficulty in ascertaining the truth regarding a matter that has taken place only a few minutes ago, and almost in my own presence!

source: - Attributed in "Testimony: its posture in the scientific world" by Robert Chambers, Volume 2, (p. 12), 1859.

Topics: Taken, Events, Matter, Ancient History

Better were it to be unborn than to be ill bred.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.560

Topics: Manners, Ill, Unborn

No man is esteemed for colorful garments except by fools and women.

Topics: Women, Fool, Garments

It is observed in the course of worldly things, that men's fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues; and more men's fortunes overthrown thereby than by vices.

Topics: Men, Vices, Tongue, Worldly Things

Men endure the losses that befall them by mere casualty with more patience than the damages they sustain by injustice.

Topics: Loss, Men, Damage

I wish I loved the Human Race; I wish I loved its silly face; I wish I liked the way it walks; I wish I liked the way it talks; And when I'm introduced to one I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!

source: - "Wishes of an Elderly Man" l. 1 (1923)

Topics: Love, Fun, Silly, Jolly

'Tis a sharp medicine, but it will cure all that ails you.

Topics: Medicine, Cures

If she undervalues me, What care I how fair she be?

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (2015). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Sir Walter Raleigh (Illustrated)”, p.85, Delphi Classics

Topics: Famous Love, Care, Pale

But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer a friend.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh”, p.562

Topics: Dog, Flattery, Knows, Flatterer

A man must first govern himself ere he is fit to govern a family; and his family ere he be fit to bear the government of the commonwealth.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh”, p.1

Topics: Men, Firsts, Bears

There is nothing more becoming any wise man, than to make choice of friends, for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art: let them therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee for gain; but make election rather of thy betters, than thy inferiors.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.557

Topics: Friendship, Wise, Art

Our immortal souls, while righteous, are by God himself beautified with the title of his own image and similitude.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “The history of the world”, p.59

Topics: Soul, Titles, Righteous

If thy friends be of better quality than thyself, thou mayest be sure of two things; first, they will be more careful to keep thy counsel, because they have more to lose than thou hast; the second, they will esteem thee for thyself, and not for that which thou dost possess.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.557

Topics: Inspirational, Success, Two

All, or the greatest part of men that have aspired to riches or power, have attained thereunto either by force or fraud, and what they have by craft or cruelty gained, to cover the foulness of their fact, they call purchase, as a name more honest. Howsoever, he that for want of will or wit useth not those means, must rest in servitude and poverty.

source: - "The Cabinet Council". Book by Walter Raleigh, Chapter 25, 1658.

Topics: Mean, Power, Men

It would be an unspeakable advantage, both to the public and private, if men would consider that great truth, that no man is wise or safe but he that is honest.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: Miscellaneous works”, p.297

Topics: Wise, Honesty, Men

Our shipping and sea service is our best and safest defence as being the only fortification and rampart of England.

Topics: Sea, England, Shipping, Fortification

According to Solomon, life and death are in the power of the tongue; and as Euripides truly affirmeth, every unbridled tongue in the end shall find itself unfortunate; for in all that ever I observed in the course of worldly things, I ever found that men's fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues, and more men's fortunes overthrown thereby, also, than by their vices.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.564

Topics: Men, Life And Death, Speech, Worldly Things

He that doth not as other men do, but endeavoureth that which ought to be done, shall thereby rather incur peril than preservation; for who so laboreth to be sincerely perfect and good shall necessarily perish, living among men that are generally evil.

Topics: Integrity, Men, Evil

The gain of lying is nothing else but not to be trusted of any, nor to be believed when we say the truth.

source: - "The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh".

Topics: Lying, Deceit, Gains

I dare not think that any supercelestial heaven, or whatsoever else ... was increate and eternal. And as for the place of God before the world created, the finite wisdom of mortal men hath no perception of it; neither can it limit the seat of infinite power, no more than infinite power itself can be limited; for his place is in himself, whom no magnitude else can contain.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1736). “The History of the World in Five Books”, p.5

Topics: Men, Thinking, Heaven, Infinite Power

God is absolutely good; and so, assuredly, the cause of all that is good.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1820). “The History of the World: In Five Books. Viz. Treating of the Beginning and First Ages of Same from the Creation Unto Abraham. Of the Birth of Abraham to the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Time of Philip of Macedon. From the Reign of Philip of Macedon to the Establishing of that Kingdom in the Race of Antigonus. From Settled Rule of Alexander's Successors in the East Until the Romans (prevailing Over All) Made Conquest of Asia and Macedon”, p.196

Topics: God, Causes, Good God

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning yields; A honey tongue, a heart of gall, Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.708

Topics: Spring, Flower, Fall, Reckoning

Who so taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.124

Topics: Men, Hands, Evil

Use your youth so that you may have comfort to remember it when it has forsaken you, and not sigh and grieve at the account thereof.

Topics: Grieving, Comfort, Use

The best time for marriage will be towards thirty, for as the younger times are unfit, either to choose or to govern a wife and family, so, if thou stay long, thou shalt hardly see the education of thy children, who, being left to strangers, are in effect lost; and better were it to be unborn than ill-bred; for thereby thy posterity shall either perish, or remain a shame to thy name.

Topics: Children, Names, Wife

War begets quiet, quiet idleness, idleness disorder, disorder ruin; likewise ruin order, order virtue, virtue glory, and good fortune.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh”, p.122

Topics: War, Order, Ruins

What is our life? A play of passion. Our mirth the music of division. Our mother's wombs the tyring houses be, Where we are drest for this short Comedy.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1965). “Sir Walter Raleigh: Selected Prose and Poetry”

Topics: Life, Mother, Passion

Above all things, be not made an ass to carry the burdens of other men if any friend desire thee to be his surety, give him a part of what thou has to spare if he presses thee further, he is not thy friend at all.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: Miscellaneous works”, p.565

Topics: Men, Giving, Desire

O eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared, thou hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hath cast out of the world and despised. Thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelty, and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, Hic jacet!

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1820). “The History of the World: In Five Books. Viz. Treating of the Beginning and First Ages of Same from the Creation Unto Abraham. Of the Birth of Abraham to the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Time of Philip of Macedon. From the Reign of Philip of Macedon to the Establishing of that Kingdom in the Race of Antigonus. From Settled Rule of Alexander's Successors in the East Until the Romans (prevailing Over All) Made Conquest of Asia and Macedon”, p.370

Topics: Death, Ambition, Pride, Drawn Together

In a word, we may gather out of History a policy no less wise than I eternal; by the comparison and application of other mens fore-passed miseries with our own like errours and ill-deservings.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1687). “The History of the World, in Five Books”, p.3

Topics: Wise, History, May

No mortal thing can bear so high a price, But that with mortal thing it may be bought.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.715

Topics: Bears, May, Bribery, Bribe

Take special care that thou never trust any friend or servant with any matter that may endanger thine estate; for so shalt thou make thyself a bond-slave to him that thou trustest, and leave thyself always to his mercy.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: Miscellaneous works”, p.557

Topics: Trust, Caring, Special

Be advised what thou dost discourse of, and what thou maintainest whether touching religion, state, or vanity; for if thou err in the first, thou shalt be accounted profane; if in the second, dangerous; if in the third, indiscreet and foolish.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.563

Topics: Vanity, Touching, Religion

Even such isTime, which takes in trust Our youth, our joys, and all we have, And pays us but with age and dust, Who in the dark and silent grave When we have wandered all our ways Shuts up the story of our days, And from which earth, and grave, and dust The Lord shall raise me up, I trust.

source: - Written the night before his death, and found in his Bible in the Gate-house at Westminster. V. B. Heltzel 'Ralegh's "Even such is time"' in 'Huntingdon Library Bulletin' no. 10 (October 1936) p. 185

Topics: Time, Dark, Dust

Who so desireth to know what will be hereafter, let him think of what is past, for the world hath ever been in a circular revolution; whatsoever is now, was heretofore; and things past or present, are no other than such as shall be again: Redit orbis in orbem.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1751). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh: Kt. Political, Commercial, and Philosophical; Together with His Letters and Poems. The Whole Never Before Collected Together, and Some Never Yet Printed. To which is Prefix'd, a New Account of His Life by Tho. Birch”, p.116

Topics: Past, Thinking, World, Things Past

Whoso desireth to govern well and securely, it behoveth him to have a vigilant eye to the proceedings of great princes, and to consider seriously of their designs.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.99

Topics: Eye, Design, Wells, Proceeding

Death, which hateth and destroyeth a man, is believed; God, which hath made him and loves him, is always deferred.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Birch, William Oldys (1829). “The history of the world”, p.271

Topics: Death, Men, And Love

Give my scallop-shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk upon, My scrip of joy, immortal diet, My bottle of salvation, My gown of glory, hope's true gage; And thus I'll take my pilgrimage.

source: - 'The Passionate Man's Pilgrimage'

Topics: Hope, Giving, Joy, Pilgrimage, Scallops

Let valour end my life!

Topics: History, Ends, British History, Valour

There never was a man of solid understanding, whose apprehensions are sober, and by a pensive inspection advised, but that he hath found by an irresistible necessity one true God and everlasting being.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt: The history of the world”, p.184

Topics: God, Men, Understanding, Pensive

Historians desiring to write the actions of men, ought to set down the simple truth, and not say anything for love or hatred; also to choose such an opportunity for writing as it may be lawful to think what they will, and write what they think, which is a rare happiness of the time.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.111

Topics: Love, Writing, Opportunity

The bodies of men, munition, and money may justly be called the sinews of war.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh”, p.93

Topics: War, Men, Body

Passions are liken'd best to floods and streams: The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb; So, when affection yields discourse, it seems The bottom is but shallow whence they come. They that are rich in words, in words discover

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, “The Silent Lover I”

Topics: Passion, Romantic Love, Yield

Except thou desire to hasten thine end, take this for a general rule, that thou never add any artificial heat to thy body by wine or spice.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1751). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh: Kt. Political, Commercial, and Philosophical; Together with His Letters and Poems. The Whole Never Before Collected Together, and Some Never Yet Printed. To which is Prefix'd, a New Account of His Life by Tho. Birch”, p.355

Topics: Wine, Desire, Spices

But in vain she did conjure him, To depart her presence so, Having a thousand tongues t' allure him And but one to bid him go. When lips invite, And eyes delight, And cheeks as fresh as rose in June, Persuade delay,-- What boots to say Forego me now, come to me soon.

source: - Walter Raleigh (1829). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh”, p.721

Topics: Eye, June, Rose, Parting

All histories do show, and wise politicians do hold it necessary that, for the well-governing of every Commonweal, it behoveth man to presuppose that all men are evil, and will declare themselves so to be when occasion is offered.

Topics: Wise, Men, Evil

An anthology is like all the plums and orange peel picked out of a cake.

Topics: Book, Orange, Cake

Fain would I, but I dare not; I dare, and yet I may not; I may, although I care not, for pleasure when I play not.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (2015). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Sir Walter Raleigh (Illustrated)”, p.32, Delphi Classics

Topics: Play, Care, May

There is nothing exempt from the peril of mutation; the earth, heavens, and whole world is thereunto subject.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1751). “The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh: Kt. Political, Commercial, and Philosophical; Together with His Letters and Poems. The Whole Never Before Collected Together, and Some Never Yet Printed. To which is Prefix'd, a New Account of His Life by Tho. Birch”, p.93

Topics: Change, Heaven, Mutation

... but the longest day hath its evening.

Topics: Time, Evening

Whosoever in writing a modern history shall follow the truth too near the heels it may haply strike out his teeth.

source: - 'The History of the World' (1614) preface

Topics: Writing, History, Teeth, Modern History

Less pains in the world a man cannot take than to bold his tongue.

Topics: Pain, Men, Talking

When a felon's not engaged in his employment Or maturing his felonious little plans His capacity for innocent enjoyment Is just as great as any honest man's Ah! When constabulary duty's to be done A policeman's lot is not a happy one.

Topics: Men, Done, Littles, Felons

Bad language or abuse, I never, never use, Whatever the emergency; Though 'Bother it' I may Occasionally say, I never use a big, big D : What, never? : No, never! : What never? : Well, hardly ever! : Hardly ever swears a big, big D Then give three cheers, and one cheer more, For the well-bred Captain of the Pinafore!

Topics: Cheer, Giving, Abuse, Bad Language

There is no error which hath not some appearance of probability resembling truth, which, when men who study to be singular find out, straining reason, they then publish to the world matter of contention and jangling.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh (1829). “The history of the world”, p.112

Topics: Men, Errors, Matter, Sophistry

Love likes not the falling fruit, Nor the withered tree.

Topics: Fall, Tree, Likes, Withered, Withered Tree

Whoso taketh in hand to govern a multitude, either by way of liberty or principality, and cannot assure himself of those persons that are enemies to that enterprise, doth frame a state of short perseverance.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.97

Topics: Perseverance, Hands, Enemy

Silence in love betrays more woe - Than words though ne'er so witty; A beggar that is dumb, you know, may challenge double pity.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, “The Silent Lover II”

Topics: Witty, Love Is, Silence

I can't write a book commensurate with Shakespeare, but I can write a book by me.

Topics: Being Yourself, Book, Writing

Romance is a love affair in other than domestic surroundings.

Topics: Romance, Affair, Love Affair

Fain would I climb, yet fear I to fall.

source: - Line written on a window-pane, in Thomas Fuller 'The History of the Worthies of England' (1662) 'Devonshire' p. 261.

Topics: Fall, Hiking, Anxiety

A professional man of letters, especially if he is much at war with unscrupulous enemies, is naturally jealous of his privacy; he will be silent on his more personal interests, or, if he must speak, will veil them under conventional forms.

source: - "A Collection of Literary Essays".

Topics: War, Jealous, Men

In a letter to a friend the thought is often unimportant, and the feeling, if it be only a desire to entertain him, every thing.

Topics: Friendship, Feelings, Desire

The necessity of war, which among human actions is the most lawless, hath some kind of affinity with the necessity of law.

source: - Sir Walter Raleigh, William Oldys, Thomas Birch (1829). “Miscellaneous works”, p.254

Topics: War, Law, Action