Familiar Quotations Part 101

_The Defense of Poesy_.

He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney-corner.

I never heard the old song of Percy and Dougla.s.s, that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet.

_Arcadia_. Book i.

There is no man suddenly either excellently good, or extremely evil.

They are never alone that are accompanied with n.o.ble thoughts.

THOMAS HOBBES.

1588-1679.

_The Leviathan_.

Part i. Chap. 4.

For words are wise men's counters, they do but reckon by them; but they are the money of fools.

FRANCIS BACON.

1561-1626.

Essay viii. _Of Marriage and Single Life_.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

Essay 1. _Of Studies_.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.

Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.

Histories make men wise, poets witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep, moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.

JOHN MILTON.

1608-1674.

_Tract on Education_.

In those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and a sullennes against Nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.

_The Reason of Church Government urged against Prelaty_.

_Introduction to Book 2_.

A poet soaring in the high reason of his fancy, with his garland and singing robes, about him.

Beholding the bright countenance of truth in the quiet and still air of delightful studies.

_Areopagitica_.

Methinks I see in my mind a n.o.ble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam.

_Apology for Smectymmius_.

He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things, ought himself to be a true poem.