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Cowardice-Cowards: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

For those that run away and fly, Take place at least o' th' enemy.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. I. Canto III. L. 609.

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.— CONFUCIUS — Analects. Bk. II. Ch. XXIV.

Grac'd with a sword, and worthier of a fan. C.— COWPER — Task. Bk. I. L. 771.

That all men would be cowards if they dare, Some men we know have courage to declare.— CRABBE — Tale I. The Dumb Orators. L. 11.

The coward never on himself relies, But to an equal for assistance flies.— CRABBE — Tale III. The Gentleman Farmer. L. 84.

That same man, that rennith awaie, Maie again fight, an other daie.— ERASMUS — Apophthegmes. Bk. II. Demonsthenes. Trans. by Udall.

Cowards are cruel, but the brave Love mercy, and delight to save.— GAY — Fables. Pt. I. Fable 1.

He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day. But he who is in battle slain, Can never rise to fight again.— GOLDSMITH — The Art of Poetry on a New Plan. Vol. II. P. 147.

When desp'rate ills demand a speedy cure, Distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.— SAM'L JOHNSON — Irene. Act IV. Sc. 1.

He That kills himself to avoid misery, fears it, And, at the best, shows but a bastard valour. This life's a fort committed to my trust, Which I must not yield up, till it be forced : Nor will I. He's not valiant that dares die, But he that boldly bears calamity.— MASSINGER — Maid of Honour. Act IV. Sc. 3.

Men lie, who lack courage to tell truth-the cowards!— JOAQUIN MILLER — Ina. Sc. 3.

He that fights and runs away May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain Will never rise to fight again.— RAY — History of the Rebellion. Bristol,

COWARDICE-COWARDS. 121 Where's the coward that would not dare To fight for such a land! ScoTT-Marmion. Canto IV. St. 30. When all the blandishments of life are gone, The coward sneaks to death, the brave live on.— DR. SEWELL — The Suicide.

A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 427.

By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!-I afear'd of him!-A very weak monster!-The man i' the moon!-A most poor, credulous monster!-Well drawn, monster, in good sooth!— Shakespeare — Tempest. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 144.

Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Julius Cæsar. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 33. Dost thou now fall over to my foes? Thou wear a lion's hide! doff it for shame, And hang a calf's skin on those recreant limbs.— Shakespeare — King John. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 127.

How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, Who, inward search' d, have livers white as milk. S.— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act III. Sc. 2, L. 83.

I hold it cowardice To rest mistrustful where a noble heart Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. III. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 6.

I may speak it to my shame, I have a truant been to chivalry.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act V. Sc. I.

I L. 93. It was great pity, so it was, That villanous saltpetre should be digg'd Out of the bowels of the harmless earth, Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd So cowardly; and but for these vile guns He would himself have been a soldier.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 59.

I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 13.

Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs, Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honor from thy suffering.— Shakespeare — King Lear. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 50.

Plague on't; an I thought he had been valiant, and so cunning in fence, I'ld have seen him damned ere I'ld have challenged him.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 311.

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.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. I. Act I. Sc. 5. L. 23.

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.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. III. Act I. Sc. 4. L. 39.

That which in mean men we entitle patience Is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.— Shakespeare — Richard II. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 33.

Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward! Thou little valiant, great in villany! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! Thou Fortune's champion, that dost never fight But when her humorous ladyship is by To teach thee safety!— Shakespeare — King John. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 116.

What a slave art thou, to hack thy sword as thou hast done, and then say it was in fight!— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act II. Sc. 4. L. 286.

Who knows himself a braggart, Let him fear this, for it will come to pass That every braggart shall be found an ass.— Shakespeare — All's Well That Ends Well. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 369.

Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I dare not' wait upon, 'I would'; Like the poor cat i' the adage?— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act I. Sc. 7. L. 41.

You are the hare of whom the proverb goes, Whose valor plucks dead lions by the beard.— Shakespeare — King John. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 137.