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Discretion: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

The best of things beyond their measure cloy.— HOMER — The Iliad. Bk. XIII. L. 795.

Pope's trans. It happens as with cages; the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.— MONTAIGNE — Upon some Verses of Virgil. Bk. III. Ch. V. Ch. V.

To sigh, yet feel no pain, To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.— MOORE — The Blue Stocking.

I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty mind.— Shakespeare — Richard III. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 36.

I see your brows are full of discontent, Your hearts of sorrow and your eyes of tears.— Shakespeare — Richard II. Act IV. Sc. I. L. 331,

Past and to come seem best; things present worst.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. II. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 108.

Seldom he smiles and smiles in such a sort As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything. Julius Cæsar. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 205. No great thought, no great object, satisfies the mind at first view-nor at the last. S.— ABEL STEVENS — Madame de Staël. Ch. XXXVIII.

We love in others what we lack ourselves, and would be everything but what we are.— R. H. STODDARD — Arcadian Idyl. L. 30.

I was born to other things.— TENNYSON — In Memoriam. CXX.

Poor in abundance, famish'd at a feast.— YOUNG — Night Thoughts. Night VII. L. 44.

It shew'd discretion, the best part of valor.— BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER — A King and No King. Act IV. Sc. 3.

Covering discretion with a coat of folly. X.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act II. Sc. 4. L. 38.

For 'tis not good that children should know any wickedness: old folks, you know, have discretion, as they say, and know the world.— Shakespeare — Merry Wives of Windsor. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 131.

I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 733.

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, Not to outsport discretion.— Shakespeare — Othello. Act II. Sc. 3. L. 2.

Let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 18.

The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act V. Sc. 4. L. 121.