Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Thomas Middleton

English Dramatist, Playwright and Poet

"In the election of a wife, as in a project of war, to err but once is to be undone forever."

"Lands mortgaged may return, and more esteem'd, but honesty once pawn'd, is ne'er redeem'd."

"Laughter holding both his sides."

"Let me feel how thy pulses beat."

"Let no man seek Henceforth to be foretold that shall befall Him or his children."

"Let the air strike our tune, whilst we show reverence to yond peeping moon."

"Like pearl dropt from the opening eyelids of the morn upon the bashful rose."

"Love is all in fire, and yet is ever freezing; Love is much in winning, yet is more in leesing: Love is ever sick, and yet is never dying; Love is ever true, and yet is ever lying; Love does doat in liking, and is mad in loathing; Love indeed is anything, yet indeed is nothing."

"Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end."

"Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may."

"Money! Ho, ho! 'T'as been my want so long, 'tis now my scoff. I've e'en forgot what colour silver's of."

"'Mongst all your virtues I see not charity written, which some call the first born of religion; and I wonder, I cannot see it in yours. Believe it, sir, there is no virtue can be sooner miss'd or later welcom'd; it begins the rest, and sets them all in order."

"My nearest and dearest enemy."

"Of which all old men sicken,—avarice."

"On his last legs."

"One may derive some wit."

"Rivers from bubbling springs have rise at first; and great, from abject things."

"Shame sticks ever close to the ribs of honor."

"Spick and span new."

"That disease of which all old men sicken, avarice."

"The better day, the better deed."

"The less of this cold world the more of heaven."

"The slowest kiss makes too much haste."

"The strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair."

"The treasures of the deep are not so precious as are the concealed comforts of a man locked up in woman's love."

"The world ’s a stage on which all parts are played."

"The worst comes to the worst."

"Then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine."

"There is no hate lost between us."

"There is no virtue can be sooner missed or later welcomed; it begins the rest, and sets them all in order."

"There's no hate lost between us."

"This is the fruit of craft: like him that shoots up high, looks for the shaft, and finds it in his forehead."

"This was a good week’s labor."

"Though I be poor, I'm honest."

"Turn over a new leaf."

"Two other precious drops that ready stood, Each, in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell Kiss'd."

"Virtue itself offends, when coupled with forbidding manners."

"We're not out to search out people and draw people in and embarrass anybody."

"When affection only speaks, truth is not always there."

"When men's intents are wicked, their guilt haunts them, but when they are just they're arm'd, and nothing daunts them."

"Whilst we show reverence to yond peeping moon."

"Who aspires must down as low As high he soar'd."

"Who loves law, dies either mad or poor."

"Who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king."

"With diadem and sceptre high advanced, The lower still I fall; only supreme In misery; such joy ambition finds."

"Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet reluctant amorous delay."