Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thy desire to raise thy fortunes encourage thy delights to the casts of fortune, be wise betimes, lest thou repent too… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thy daughter marry well, thou hast found a son; if not, thou hast lost a daughter. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Wouldst thou know the lawfulness of the action which thou desirest to undertake, let thy devotion recommend it to Divine blessing: if… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thou expect death as a friend, prepare to entertain it; if thou expect death as an enemy, prepare to overcome it;… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thou hast no inferiors, have patience awhile, and thou shalt have no superiors. The grave requires no marshal. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Prize not thyself by what thou hast, but by what thou art; he that values a jewel by her golden frame, or… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thou neglectest thy love to thy neighbor, in vain thou professest thy love to God; for by thy love to God,… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If opinion hath lighted the lamp of thy name, endeavor to encourage it with thy own oil, lest it go out and… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
It is a most just punishment, that man should lose that freedom, which man could not use, yet had power to keep,… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Demean thyself more warily in thy study than in the street. If thy public actions have a hundred witnesses, thy private have… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thou desire to see thy child virtuous, let him not see his father's vices: thou canst not rebuke that in them,… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Sin is a basilisk whose eyes are full of venom. If the eye of thy soul see her first, it reflects her… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
So use prosperity, that adversity may not abuse thee: if in the one, security admits no fears, in the other, despair will… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures; to every man a proper book, himself being an abridgment of all… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thou desire not to be poor, desire not to be too rich. He is rich, not that possesses much, but he… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If you desire to be magnanimous, undertake nothing rashly, and fear nothing thou undertakest; fear nothing but infamy; dare anything but injury;… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
I here present thee with a hive of bees, laden some with wax, and some with honey. Fear not to approach! there… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself. If thou find anything questionable there, use the commentary of a… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
As there is no worldly gain without some loss, so there is no worldly loss without some gain; if thou hast lost… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Be not too great a niggard in the commendations of him that professes thy own quality: if he deserve thy praise, thou… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If thy faith have no doubts, thou has just cause to doubt thy faith; and if thy doubts have no hope, thou… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him… — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image
The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest. — Francis Quarles Copy Share Image