--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor…" description: "\"Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.\" — Thomas Tusser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/thomas-tusser-19163_claws_fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-h_83560.jpg" --- # Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep… ![“Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.” quote by Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/thomas-tusser-19163_claws_fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-h_83560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/thomas-tusser-19163_claws_fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-h_83560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/thomas-tusser-19163_claws_fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-h_83560.jpg) > “Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.” [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates obedience to divine authority and secular law, warning against entanglement with corrupt officials. **In simple terms:** Obey God and law, avoid corrupt officials. Key Takeaway Stay within lawful bounds to avoid danger. Themes authority law morality politics caution Mood cautious serious reflective Type proverb advice maxim When to use this quote - courtroom testimony - political negotiations - bureaucratic compliance Key Concepts obedience justice power dynamics Practical Applications - legal counsel - ethical decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise when personal conscience conflicts with law? - How does power shape moral choices? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-god/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ## Related quotes > [Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/love-god-and-do-whatever-you-please-for-the-soul-trained-in-love-to/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Let what offends God offend me, and what God pardons, I pardon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/let-what-offends-god-offend-me-and-what-god-pardons-i-pardon/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-the-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [In cities men cannot be prevented from concerting together, and from awakening a mutual excitement which prompts sudden and passionate resolutions. 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Only tyrants are fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-magistrate-is-not-a-father-he-must-be-just-and-severe-only-tyrants/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [He who takes the oath today to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States only assumes the solemn obligation which every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/he-who-takes-the-oath-today-to-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [The power of Kings and Magistrates is nothing else, but what is only derivative, transferrd and committed to them in trust from the People,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-power-of-kings-and-magistrates-is-nothing-else-but-what-is-only/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ Every answer he \[President John Adams\] gives to his addressers unmasks more and more his principles and views. 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In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/since-custom-is-the-principal-magistrate-of-man-s-life-let-men-by-all/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## More by Thomas Tusser > [God sendeth and giveth both mouth and meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/god-sendeth-and-giveth-both-mouth-and-meat/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [In March and in April from morning till night In sowing and seeding good housewives delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/in-march-and-in-april-from-morning-till-night-in-sowing-and-seeding/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Sweet April showers do spring May flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/sweet-april-showers-do-spring-may-flowers/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Ill husbandry lieth In prison for debt: Good husbandry spieth Where profit get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/ill-husbandry-lieth-in-prison-for-debt-good-husbandry-spieth-where/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Except wind stands as it never stood It is an ill wind turns none to good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/except-wind-stands-as-it-never-stood-it-is-an-ill-wind-turns-none-to/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Make hunger thy sauce, as a medicine for health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/make-hunger-thy-sauce-as-a-medicine-for-health/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Dry August and warm, Doth harvest no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/dry-august-and-warm-doth-harvest-no-harm/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/look-ere-thou-leap-see-ere-thou-go/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [February, fill the dyke with what thou dost like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/february-fill-the-dyke-with-what-thou-dost-like/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [In harvest time, harvest folk, servants and all Should make, all together, good cheer in the hall Once ended the harvest, let none be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/in-harvest-time-harvest-folk-servants-and-all-should-make-all/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Tide flowing is feared, for many a thing, Great danger to such as be sick, it doth bring; Sea ebb, by long ebbing, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/tide-flowing-is-feared-for-many-a-thing-great-danger-to-such-as-be/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/at-christmas-play-and-make-good-cheer-for-christmas-comes-but-once-a/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/each-man-must-for-himself-alone-decide-what-is-right-and-what-is-2/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [A fool and his money be soon at debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/a-fool-and-his-money-be-soon-at-debate/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/for-the-first-fourteen-years-for-a-rod-they-do-while-for-the-next-as/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) [Explore all 32 Thomas Tusser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) ## More Claws quotes > [When the Batman TV series was taken to the silver screen, one of America's favourite sweethearts would don the mask and claws of Catwoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/when-the-batman-tv-series-was-taken-to-the-silver-screen-one-of/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [Of course, when we got home, we found that Dagda had peed on my down comforter. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [As far as history goes I am dead. If there is something beyond I shall have to bounce back. 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