William Davenant

Honor is the moral conscience of the great.

— William Davenant

Actions rare and sudden do commonly proceed from fierce necessity, of else from some oblique design, which is ashamed to show itself…

— William Davenant

Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know.

— William Davenant

Calamity is the perfect glass wherein we truly see and know ourselves.

— William Davenant

Aubade THE lark now leaves his wat'ry nest, And climbing shakes his dewy wings. He takes this window for the East, And…

— William Davenant

Praise and Prayer PRAISE is devotion fit for mighty minds, The diff'ring world's agreeing sacrifice; Where Heaven divided faiths united finds: But…

— William Davenant

For in a dearth of comforts, we art taught To be contented with the least.

— William Davenant

Go! dive into the Southern Sea, and when Th'ast found, to trouble the nice sight of men, A swelling pearl, and such…

— William Davenant

It is the wit and policy of sin to hate those we have abused.

— William Davenant

How beautiful is sorrow when it is dressed by virgin innocence! it makes felicity in others seem deformed.

— William Davenant

Generous souls Are still most subject to credulity.

— William Davenant

What one cannot, another can.

— William Davenant

To be rich be diligent; move on Like heav'ns great movers that enrich the earth; Whose moment's sloth would show the world…

— William Davenant

Small are the seeds fate does unheeded sow Of slight beginnings to important ends.

— William Davenant

Be not with honor's gilded baits beguil'd, Nor think ambition wise, because 'tis brave; For though we like it, as a forward…

— William Davenant

Think not ambition wise, because 't is brave.

— William Davenant

Ambition's monstrous stomach does increase By eating, and it fears to starve, unless It still may feed, and all it sees devour;…

— William Davenant

All slander must still be strangled in its birth, or time will soon conspire to make it strong enough to overcome the…

— William Davenant

Slow seems their speed whose thoughts before them run.

— William Davenant

How much pleasure they lose (and even the pleasures of heroic poesy are not unprofitable) who take away the liberty of a…

— William Davenant

Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.

— William Davenant

To a Mistress Dying Lover. YOUR beauty, ripe and calm and fresh As eastern summers are, Must now, forsaking time and flesh,…

— William Davenant

The assembled souls of all that men held wise.

— William Davenant

Faith lights us through the dark to Deity.

— William Davenant

O harmless Death! whom still the valiant brave, The wise expect, the sorrowful invite, And all the good embrace, who know the…

— William Davenant