Francis Quarles
Francis Quarles
Francis Quarleswas an English poet most famous for his Emblem book aptly entitled Emblems...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth8 May 1592
neutrality prey dangerous
Neutrality is dangerous, whereby thou becomest a necessary prey to the conqueror.
strong men giving
The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.
heart evil despair
A despairing heart is the true prophet of approaching evil; his actions may weave the webs of Fortune, but not break them.
kings obedience highways
Obedience to truth known, is the king's highway to that which is still beyond us.
lust vices spurs
Lust is a sharp spur to vice, which always putteth the affections into a false gallop.
humility pride light
The light of the understanding, humility kindleth and pride covereth.
oil temptation devil
When the flesh presents thee with delights, then present thyself with dangers; where the world possesses thee with vain hopes, there possess thyself with true fear; when the devil brings thee oil, bring thou vinegar. The way to be safe is never to be secure.
home heart secret
If any speak ill of thee, flee home to thy own conscience, and examine thy heart: if thou be guilty, it is a just correction; if not guilty, it is a fair instruction: make use of both; so shalt thou distil honey out of gall, and out of an open enemy create a secret friend.
wise silence desire
If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.
prayer pleasure ends
God's pleasure is at the end of our prayers.
travel sea land
We sack, we ransack to the utmost sands Of native kingdoms, and of foreign lands: We travel sea and soil; we pry, and prowl, We progress, and we prog from pole to pole.
pride vanity shame
Thy pride is but the prologue of thy shame; where vain-glory commands, there folly counsels; where pride rides, there shame lackeys.
pride justice beloved
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.
pride flames fire
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.