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Oaths: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

He that imposes an Oath makes it, Not he that for Convenience takes it.— S. BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. II. Canto II. L. 377.

Oaths were not purpos'd, more than law, To keep the Good and Just in awe, But to confine the Bad and Sinful, Like mortal cattle in a penfold.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. II. Canto II. L. 197.

Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning die, But leave us still our old nobility.— LORD JOHN MANNERS — England's Trust. Pt. III. L. 227.

We'll shine in more substantial honours, And to be noble we'll be good.— THOMAS PERCY — Reliques. Winifreda.

His nature is too noble for the world : He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for 's power to thunder.— Shakespeare — Coriolanus. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 255.

This was the noblest Roman of them all : All the conspirators save only he Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar; He only, in a general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. Julius Cæsar. Act V. Sc. 5, L. 68. The two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.— SWIFT — Battle of the Books.

Better not to be at all Than not be noble.— TENNYSON — The Princess. Pt. II. L. 79.

From yon blue heavens above us bent The gardener Adam and his wife Smile at the claims of long descent.— TENNYSON — Lady Clara Vere de Vere. St. 7.

Howe'er it be, it seems to me, 'Tis only noble to be good. Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood.— TENNYSON — Lady Clara Vere de Vere. St. 7.

Whoe'er amidst the sons Of reason, valor, liberty, and virtue Displays distinguished merit, is a noble Of Nature's own creating.— THOMSON — Coriolanus. Act III. Sc. 3.

Titles are marks of honest men, and wise: The fool or knave that wears a title lies.— YOUNG — Love of Fame. Satire I. L. 145,

An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 228.

Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, And I'll believe thee.— Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 112.

For it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives with a swaggering accent sharply twanged manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 196.

I'll be damned for never a king's son in Christendom.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 109

I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath oath; Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both.— Shakespeare — Pericles. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 120.

It is a great sin to swear unto a sin, But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. II. Act V. Sc. 1. L. 182.

Or, having sworn too hard a keeping oath, Study to break it and not break my troth.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 65.

'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth, But the plain single vow that is vow'd true. S.— Shakespeare — All's Well That Ends Well. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 21.

What fool is not so wise To lose an oath to win a paradise?— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 72.

When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths.— Shakespeare — Cymbeline. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 11.

"He shall not die, by God," cried my uncle Toby. The Accusing Spirit which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blushed as he gave it in and the Recording Angel as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.— STERNE — Tristram Shandy. Bk. VI. Ch. VIII.