Great Throughts Treasury

"Virtue is the roughest way, but proves at night a bed of down."

"How happy is he born or taught, That serveth not another’s will; Whose armor is his honest thought And simple truth his utmost skill! Lord of himself, though not of lands; And having nothing, yet hath all. You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light; You common people of the skies,— What are you when the moon shall rise? An itch of disputing will prove the scab of churches. I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men’s stuff. Idle time not idly spent. Now all nature seemed in love, and birds had drawn their valentines."

"An ambassador is a man of virtue sent to lie abroad for his country; a news-writer is a man without virtue who lies at home for himself"

"An itch for disputation is the mange of the churches."

"As if the spring were all your own, what are you when the rose is blown?"

"He first deceased, she for a little tried to live without him, liked it not, and died."

"Hanging was the worst use a man could be put to."

"I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff, at my best value."

"Lord of himself, though not of lands, And having nothing, yet hath all."

"Love lodged in a woman's breast is but a guest."

"Tell the truth so as to puzzle and confound your adversaries."

"So, when my mistress shall be seen iIn form and beauty of her mind, by virtue first, then choice, a queen."

"The itch of disputation will prove the scab of the Church."

"Then, though darkened, you shall say, when friends fail, and Princes frown, virtue is the roughest way, but proves at night a bed of down."

"Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still, And grief is forced to laugh against her will."

"You meaner beauties of the night, that poorly satisfy our eyes more by your number than your light; you common people of the skies, What are you when the sun shall rise?"

"Well building hat three conditions. Commodity, firmness, and delight."

"This man is free from servile bonds of hope to rise or fear to fall; Lord of himself, though not of lands, And having nothing, yet hath all."