Home › By Author › Shakespeare › Henry VI
Shakespeare Quotes from Henry VI
Bold adversity Cries out for noble York and Somerset, To beat assailing death from his weak legions. And whiles the honourable captain there Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs.— filed under Adversity
'Tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber upward turns his face : But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 21. Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition.— filed under Ambition
So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.— filed under Birds-Cuckoo
Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch.— filed under Birds-Humming-Bird
No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.— filed under Birds-Humming-Bird
Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest, But may imagine how the bird was dead, Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?— filed under Birds-Owl
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while And like a peacock sweep along his tail.— filed under Birds-Pelican
As I have seen a swan With bootless labour swim against the tide And spend her strength with over-matching waves.— filed under Birds-Thrush
Care is no cure, but rather a corrosive, For things that are not to be remedied.— filed under Care
Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again, Obeying with my wind when I do blow, And yielding to another when it blows, Commanded always by the greater gust; Such is the lightness of you common men.— filed under Character
I renounce all confidence.— filed under Boiste
Trust not him that hath once broken faith.— filed under Conquest
1850. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, Where death's approach is seen so terrible!— filed under Conscience
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age And twit with cowardice a man half dead?— filed under Content
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Julius Cæsar. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 27. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow, And with the other fling it at thy face, Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee. S.— filed under Content
My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen: my crown is called content; A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.— filed under Content
The shepherd's homely curds, His cold thin drink out of his leathern bottle, His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade, All which secure and sweetly he enjoys, Is far beyond a prince's delicates, His viands sparkling in a golden cup, His body couched in a curious bed, When care, mistrust, and treason wait on him.— filed under Content
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.— filed under Courage
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.— filed under Courage
Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear. น.— filed under Courage
I hold it cowardice To rest mistrustful where a noble heart Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench Are from their hives and houses driven away. They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs; Now, like whelps, we crying run away.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
So cowards fight when they can fly no further; As doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons; So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers.— filed under Cowardice-Cowards
He dies, and makes no sign.— filed under Death
My sick heart shows That I must yield my body to the earth, And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe. Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle: Under whose shade the ramping lion slept : Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree, And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind. น.— filed under Death
When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 30. Who pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood With that grim ferryman which poets write of, Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. Richard III. Act. I. Sc. 4. L. 45. Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust? And, live we how we can, yet die we must.— filed under Death
A quicksand of deceit. C.— filed under Deceit
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry, "Content" to that which grieves my heart; And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions.— filed under Deceit
Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light.— filed under Destiny
Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.— filed under Dissension
If they perceive dissension in our looks And that within ourselves we disagree, How will their grudging stomachs be provoked To wilful disobedience and rebel!— filed under Dissension
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government.— filed under Dissension
And wilt thou still be hammering treachery, To tumble down thy husband and thyself From top of honour to disgrace's feet?— filed under Disgrace
He can write and read and cast accompt. O monstrous! We took him setting of boys' copies. Here's a villain!— filed under Education
Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress, But always resolute in most extremes.— filed under Extremes
Who can be patient in such extremes?— filed under Extremes
In thy face I see thy fury: if I longer stay We shall begin our ancient bickerings.— filed under Face
Fates, we will know your pleasures : That we shall die we know; 'tis but the time And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Julius Cæsar. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 98. If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 3. L. 15. It boots not to resist both wind and tide.— filed under Fate
What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide.— filed under Fate
The Friar of Orders Gray. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this multitude?— filed under Fickleness
her leaving the Town after the Coronation. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.— filed under Fire
This token serveth for a flag of truce Betwixt ourselves and all our followers.— filed under Flags
From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.— filed under Flowers-Rose
Hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose. Midsummer-Night's Dream. Act II. Sc.1. L. 107. Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose, With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed.— filed under Flowers-Rose
Introductory Stanza. Glory is like a circle in the water, Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself Till, by broad spreading it disperse to nought. C.— filed under Glory
God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.— filed under God
God shall be my hope, My stay, my guide and lantern to my feet. S.— filed under God
Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; For I have bought it with an hundred blows.— filed under Gold
They bore him barefac'd on the bier; And in his grave rain'd many a tear. น. Hamlet. Act IV. Sc. 5. L. 164. GRAVE (THE). Within their chiefest temple I'll erect A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd.— filed under Gratitude
Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind And makes it fearful and degenerate. S.— filed under Grief
Unbidden guests Are often welcomest when they are gone.— filed under Guests
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright.— filed under Hair
Epigram X. Even at this sight My heart is turn'd to stone: and while 'tis mine, It shall be stony.— filed under Heart
Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven? The treasury of everlasting joy. S.— filed under Hell
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd Out of the powerful regions under earth, Help me this once.— filed under Heroes
But all his mind is bent to holiness, To number Ave-Maries on his beads; His champions are the prophets and apostles, His weapons holy saws of sacred writ, His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves Are brazen images of canonized saints.— filed under Holiness
1692. And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.— filed under Imagination
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.— filed under Judgment
Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just, And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.— filed under Justice
I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.— filed under Kisses
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.— filed under Knowledge
And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak.— filed under Labor
The sands are number'd that make up my life; Here must I stay, and here my life must end.— filed under Life
Shakespeare. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.— filed under Linguists
Wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms.— filed under Love
Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. C. Julius Cæsar. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 22. O, where is loyalty? If it be banish'd from the frosty head, Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?— filed under Loyalty
'Tis but a base, ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.— filed under Mind
Decrepit miser; base, ignoble wretch; I am descended of a gentler blood.— filed under Misers
See how the morning opes her golden gates, And takes her farewell of the glorious sun! How well resembles it the prime of youth, Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love.— filed under Morning
The day begins to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth.— filed under Morning
How irksome is this music to my heart! When such stringsjar, what hope of harmony?— filed under Music
How goes it now, sir? this news which is the called true is so like an old tale, that verity of it is in strong suspicion. น. Winter's Tale. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 25. I drown'd these news in tears.— filed under News
To all, to each, a fair good night, And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light. ScoTT-Marmion. Canto VI. Last Lines. And night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle overveil'd the earth.— filed under Night
It is a great sin to swear unto a sin, But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.— filed under Oaths
Let them obey that know not how to rule.— filed under Obedience
Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, But will suspect 'twas he that made the slaughter?— filed under Occupations-Authorship
He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.— filed under Occupations-Cabinet-Making
But in these nice sharp quillets of the law, Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.— filed under Occupations-Law
Faith, I have been a truant in the law, And never yet could frame my will to it; And therefore frame the law unto my will.— filed under Occupations-Law
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.— filed under Occupations-Law
Masons. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it.— filed under Occupations-Law
OCCUPATIONS-MEDICINE. 439 The elder of them, being put to nurse, Was by a beggar-woman stolen away; And, ignorant of his birth and parentage, Became a bricklayer when he came to age.— filed under Occupations-Law
A braver soldier never couched lance, A gentler heart did never sway in court.— filed under Occupations-Military
away. Drummer, strike up, and let us march— filed under Occupations-Military
I am a soldier and unapt to weep Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.— filed under Occupations-Military
Who should be pitiful, if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a peace, If holy churchmen take delight in broils?— filed under Occupations-Preaching
Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school: and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. C.— filed under Occupations-Printing
Knight. A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.— filed under Xvii
What means this passionate discourse, This peroration with such circumstance?— filed under Order
A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.— filed under Passion
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs.— filed under Pity
All his mind is bent to holiness, To number Ave-Maries on his beads.— filed under Prayer
Rather let my head Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any Save to the God of heaven and to my king.— filed under Prayer
She bears a duke's revenues on her back, our poverty. And in her heart she scorns our poverty.— filed under Prison
But when the fox hath once got in his nose, He'll soon find means to make the body follow.— filed under Proverbs
Delays have dangerous ends. jj.— filed under Proverbs
Ill blows the wind that profits nobody.— filed under Proverbs
There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer.— filed under Prosperity
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.— filed under Iii
I always thought It was both impious and unnatural That such immanity and bloody strife Should reign among professors of one faith.— filed under Religion
Is not this a lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment? that parchment, being scribbled o'er, should undo a man?— filed under Results
SEASONS (THE)-SUMMER. Summer's parching heat.— filed under Sows
It is great sin to swear unto a sin, But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.— filed under Sin
As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs, When from thy shore the tempest beat us back, I stood upon the hatches in the storm.— filed under Storm
Didst thou never hear That things ill-got had ever bad success?— filed under Success
Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer.— filed under Suspicion
A sympathy in choice. Midsummer-Night's Dream. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 141. For thou hast given me in this beauteous face, A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.— filed under Talk
I cannot weep; for all my body's moisture Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart.— filed under Tears
See, see what showers arise, Blown with the windy tempest of my heart.— filed under Tears
What I should say My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes.— filed under Tears
With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimm'd eyes Look after him and cannot do him good.— filed under Tears
Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done.— filed under Thankfulness
My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel.— filed under Thought
Make use of time, let not advantage slip; Beauty within itself should not be wasted : Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime Rot and consume themselves in little time. Venus and Adonis. L. 129. Minutes, hours, days, months, and years, Pass'd over to the end they were created, Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. Ah, what a life were this!— filed under Time
See the minutes how they run, How many make the hour full complete; How many hours bring about the day; How many days will finish up the year; How many years a mortal man may live.— filed under Time
So many hours must I take my rest; So many hours must I contemplate. S.— filed under Time
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep; And in his simple show he harbours treason.— filed under Treason
To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, And cried "all hail!" whereas he meant all harm.— filed under Treason
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle.— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade To shepherds looking on their silly sheep Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy To kings that fear their subjects' treachery?— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
For how can tyrants safely govern home, Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?— filed under Unity
What valour were it, when a cur doth grin, For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, When he might spurn him with his foot, away?— filed under Valor
Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.— filed under Victory
To whom God will, there be the victory!— filed under Victory
Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition.— filed under Virtue
O war! thou son of hell, Whom angry heavens do make their minister, Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly. He that is truly dedicate to war Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself Hath not essentially but by circumstance The name of valour.— filed under War
Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave.— filed under War
They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.— filed under War
Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallowrooted; Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.— filed under Welcome
Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for nought? Passionate Pilgrim. L. 339. Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; And Nero will be tainted with remorse, To hear and see her plaints.— filed under Woman
She's beautiful and therefore to be woo'd : She is a woman, therefore to be won.— filed under Woman