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Every man's vanity ought to be his greatest shame and every man's folly ought to be his greatest secret.

Francis Quarles

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Francis Quarles
Age: 52 †
Born: 1592
Born: May 8
Died: 1644
Died: September 8
Author
Poet
Writer
Havering
Every
Men
Folly
Vanity
Shame
Ought
Greatest
Secret

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Put off thy cares with thy clothes so shall thy rest strengthen thy labour, and so shall thy labour sweeten thy rest.
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Neutrality is dangerous, whereby thou becomest a necessary prey to the conqueror.
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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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It is no happiness to live long, nor unhappiness to die soon happy is he that hath lived long enough to die well.
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Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
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My mind's my kingdom.
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Mercy turns her back to the unmerciful.
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He that hath no cross deserves no crown.
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Hath fortune dealt thee ill cards? let wisdom make thee a good gamester. In a fair gale, every fool may sail, but wise behavior in a storm commends the wisdom of a pilot to bear adversity with an equal mind is both the sign and glory of a brave spirit.
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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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If thou wouldst be justified, acknowledge thine injustice. He that confesses his sin, begins his journey toward salvation. He that is sorry for it, mends his pace. He that forsakes it, is at his journey's end.
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Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.
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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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Whosoever obeyeth the devil, casteth himself down: for the devil may suggest, compel he cannot.
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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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Money is both the generation and corruption of purchased honor honor is both the child and slave of potent money: the credit which honor hath lost, money hath found. When honor grew mercenary, money grew honorable. The way to be truly noble is to contemn both.
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Let the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it he that fears not gives advantage to the danger it is less folly not to endeavor the prevention of the evil thou fearest than to fear the evil which thy endeavor cannot prevent.
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No man is born unto himself alone Who lives unto himself, he lives to none.
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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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For trash and toys, And grief-engend'ring joys, What torment seems too sharp for flesh and blood What bitter pills, Compos'd of real ills, Men swallow down to purchase one false good!
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