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Wouldst thou multiply thy riches? diminish them wisely or wouldst thou make thy estate entire? divide it charitably. Seeds that are scattered increase but, hoarded up, they perish.

Francis Quarles

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Francis Quarles
Age: 52 †
Born: 1592
Born: May 8
Died: 1644
Died: September 8
Author
Poet
Writer
Havering
Entire
Estate
Increase
Divide
Charitably
Make
Estates
Hoarded
Diminish
Wouldst
Divides
Multiply
Riches
Scattered
Seeds
Wisely
Thou
Perish

More quotes by Francis Quarles

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In the height of thy prosperity expect adversity, but fear it not. If it come not, thou art the more sweetly possessed of the happiness thou hast, and the more strongly confirmed. If it come, thou art the more gently dispossessed of the happiness thou hadst, and the more firmly prepared.
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If thy daughter marry well, thou hast found a son if not, thou hast lost a daughter.
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God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures to every man a proper book, himself being an abridgment of all others. If thou read with understanding, it will make thee a great master of philosophy, and a true servant of the divine Author: if thou but barely read, it will make thee thine own wise man and the Author's fool.
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Be not too rash in the breaking of an inconvenient custom as it was gotten, so leave it by degrees. Danger attends upon too sudden alterations he that pulls down a bad building by the great may be ruined by the fall, but he that takes it down brick by brick may live to build a better.
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That action is not warrantable which either fears to ask the divine blessing on its performance, or having succeeded, does not come with thanksgiving to God for its success.
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Poor thieves in halters we behold And great thieves in their chains of gold.
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Things temporal are sweeter in the expectation, things eternal are sweeter in the fruition the first shames thy hope, the second crowns it it is a vain journey, whose end affords less pleasure than the way.
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He that hath no cross deserves no crown.
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Our God and Souldiers we alike adore,Evn at the Brink of danger not before:After deliverance, both alike requiredOur Gods forgotten, and our Souldiers slighted.
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Immortal life is something to be earned, By slow self-conquest, comradeship with Pain, And patient seeking after higher truths.
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Is not this lily pure? What fuller can procure A white so perfect, spotless clear As in this flower doth appear?
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Wrinkle not thy face with too much laughter, lest thou become ridiculous neither wanton thy heart with too much mirth, lest thou become vain: the suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.
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O who would trust this world, or prize what's in it, That gives and takes, and chops and changes, ev'ry minute?
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Gold is Caesar's treasure, man is God's thy gold hath Caesar's image, and thou hast God's.
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Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation and honor the reward of action.
Francis Quarles
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As there is no worldly gain without some loss, so there is no worldly loss without some gain.... Set the allowance against the loss, and thou shalt find no loss great.
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Anger may repast with thee for an hour, but not repose for a night the continuance of anger is hatred, the continuance of hatred turns malice.
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The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give but earth can give no rest.
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Other vices make their own way this makes way for all vices. He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice.
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Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.
Francis Quarles