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Francis Quarles Quotes

Poet

Francis Quarles, a renowned English poet, was born on May 8, 1592, and died on September 8, 1644. His poetry focused on religious and moral themes, deeply influenced by Puritan thought.

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All Ifs Thee Men May Soul World Heart Way Desire Literature Virtue Giving Thyself Action Ends Firsts Glory Charity Danger Fire

Famous Francis Quarles Quotes

“Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily shot, when fliers scape the fowler. Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all the virtues, and the self-made sepulchre of a living man.”

Men May Made Self Purpose Virtue Sea Bird Devil Shots Thee Idle Idleness Self Made Scapes

Book:Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt after it, it destroys thee. If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. It is the wise man's bonfire, and the fool's furnace.”

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory.”

Ifs Heart Soul Beauty Virtue Vices Paradise Associates Accompany Purgatory

Book:Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“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.”

Soul Earth Spirit Hours Secret Virtue Influence My Soul Thee Touched Needles Wavering

Author:Francis Quarles

“Though virtue give a ragged livery, she gives a golden cognizance; if her service make thee poor, blush not. Thy poverty may disadvantage thee, but not dishonor thee.”

Ifs Giving May Poor Poverty Virtue Golden Thee Disadvantages Dishonor Ragged

Book:Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“Virtue is nothing but an act of loving that which is to be beloved, and that act is prudence, from whence not to be removed by constraint is fortitude; not to be allured by enticements is temperance; not to be diverted by pride is justice.”

Justice Virtue Pride Beloved Prudence Fortitude Constraints Temperance Enticement

Book:Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“If thou desire to purchase honor with thy wealth, consider first how that wealth became thine; if thy labor got it, let thy wisdom keep it; if oppression found it, let repentance restore it; if thy parent left it, let thy virtues deserve it; so shall thy honor be safer, better and cheaper.”

Ifs Firsts Desire Found Left Parent Wealth Virtue Honor Deserve Labor Oppression Repentance Cheaper

Author:Francis Quarles

“I see no virtue where I smell no sweat.”

Virtue Smell Sweat

Book:Emblems: Divine and Moral

Source: Emblems: Divine and Moral

“If thou desire the love of God and man, be humble, for the proud heart, as it loves none but itself, is beloved of none but itself. Humility enforces where neither virtue, nor strength, nor reason can prevail.”

Ifs Men Love Heart Reason God Desire Virtue Humility Proud Humble God Love Beloved Be Humble Pride And Humility Humble Man Humble Heart

Author:Francis Quarles

“As all things eternal and primordial reappear, so all things mortal return to the earth. Honor, old age, probity, justice, constance, virtue, and gentleness are all gathered into the cold tomb.”

Age Earth Death Justice Virtue Dying Cold Return Honor Eternal All Things Old Age Mortals Gentleness Tombs Probity

Author:Francis Quarles

“Let the foundation of thy affection be virtue, then make the building as rich as glorious as thou canst; if the foundation be beauty or wealth, and the building virtue, the foundation is too weak for the building, and it will fall: happy is he, the palace of whose affection is founded upon virtue, walled with riches glazed with beauty, and roofed with honor.”

Ifs Fall Wealth Virtue Rich Building Honor Weak Foundation Affection Riches Glorious Palaces

Book:Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

Source: Enchiridion Institutions, Essays and Maxims, political, moral & divine. Divided into four centuries. By Francis Quarles

“Humility enforces where neither virtue nor strength can prevail, nor reason.”

Reason Virtue Humility Pride And Humility

Author:Francis Quarles