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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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O lust, thou infernal fire, whose fuel is gluttony whose flame is pride, whose sparkles are wanton words whose smoke is infamy whose ashes are uncleanness whose end is hell.
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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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Death aims with fouler spiteAt fairer marks.
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Knowledge descries wisdom applies.
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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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Of all vices take heed of drunkenness other vices are but fruits of disordered affections--this disorders, nay, banishes reason other vices but impair the soul--this demolishes her two chief faculties, the understanding and the will 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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Immortal life is something to be earned, By slow self-conquest, comradeship with Pain, And patient seeking after higher truths.
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If thou be rich, strive to command thy money, lest it command thee.
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The grave is sooner cloy'd than men's desire.
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He that hath no cross deserves no crown.
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Afflictions clarify the soul And like hard masters, give more hard directions, Tutoring the non-age of uncurbed affections.
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If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.
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Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand, and a closed mouth.
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Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself. If thou find anything questionable there, use the commentary of a severe friend, rather than the gloss of a sweet-lipped flatterer there is more profit in a distasteful truth than in deceitful sweetness.
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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 Levites are Correctors Heaven Revises. Death is the common Press, from whence being driven, We're gather'd, Sheet by Sheet, and bound for Heaven.
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Let the greatest part of the news thou hearest be the least part of what thou believest, lest the greater part of what thou believest be the least part of what is true.
Francis Quarles
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Thy ignorance in unrevealed mysteries is the mother of a saving faith, and thy understanding in revealed truths is the mother of a sacred knowledge understand not therefore that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand understanding is the wages of a lively faith and faith is the reward of an humble ignorance.
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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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No labor is hard, no time is long, wherein the glory of eternity is the mark we level at.
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Even as the needle that directs the hour, (Touched with the loadstone) by the secret power Of hidden Nature, points upon the pole Even so the wavering powers of my soul, Touch'd by the virtue of Thy spirit, flee From what is earth, and point alone to Thee.
Francis Quarles