Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys PRS, MP, JPwas an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is most famous for the diary that he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. Pepys had no maritime experience, but he rose to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalisation of...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth23 February 1633
Samuel Pepys quotes about
At the Royall Oake Taverne, I drank a sort of French wine called Ho Bryan, that hath a good and most particular taste that I never met with.
The best of a bad bargain.
I did this night promise my wife never to go to bed without calling upon God, upon my knees, in prayer.
I went home and took my wife and went to my Cosen Tho. Pepys's and found them just sat down to dinner, which was very good; only the venison pasty was palpable beef, which was not handsome.
Find myself £43 worse than I was the last month ... chiefly arisen from my layings-out in clothes for myself and wife; viz., for her, about £12, and for myself, £55 or thereabouts.
Now public business takes up so much of my time that I must get time a Sundays or a nights to look after my own matters.
I know not how to abstain from reading.
I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.
He that will not stoop for a pin will never be worth a pound.
But me thought it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain.
Music and woman I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.
Music [is] a science peculiarly productive of a pleasure that no state of life, publick or private, secular or sacred; no difference of age or season; no temper of mind or condition of health exempt from present anguish; nor, lastly, distinction of quality, renders either improper, untimely, or unentertaining.
Did satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of the saying that the world do not grow old at all, but is in as good condition in all respects as ever it was.
I find my wife hath something in her gizzard, that only waits an opportunity of being provoked to bring up; but I will not, for my content-sake, give it.