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Elizabeth I
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“For what is a family without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch.”
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“Where might is mixed with wit, there is too good an accord.”
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“Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.”
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“My lord, we have quite forgot the fart.”
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“God may pardon you, but I never can.”
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“My seat has been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me.”
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“[To Sir Walter Raleigh on his introducing tobacco to Great Britain:] I have known many persons who turned their gold into smoke, but you are the first to turn smoke into gold.”
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“Hang Irish harpers wherever found.”
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“... we Princes are set as it were upon stages, in the sight and view of all the world. The least spot is soon spied in our garments, a blemish quickly noticed in our doings.”
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“I am more afraid of making a fault in my Latin than of the Kings of Spain, France, Scotland, the whole House of Guise, and all of their confederates.”
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“... I am come amongst you, as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all — to lay down for my God, and for my kingdoms, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.”
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“Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word.”
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“... though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: That I have reigned with your loves.”
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“To be a king and wear a crown is more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasure to them that bear it ...”
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“I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.”
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“[On being urged to marry:] I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.”
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“I have never been able to be so allured by the prospect of advantages or so terrified by misfortunes, swayed by honours or fettered by affection, nay not even so smitten by the fear of death, as to enter upon marriage.”
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“The true sin against the Holy Ghost is ingratitude.”
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“I don't keep a dog and bark myself.”
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“[To Parliament, when it urged her to marry and settle the succession:] You attend to your own duties and I'll perform mine.”
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“Although I may not be a lioness, I am a lion's cub, and inherit many of his qualities; and as long as the King of France treats me gently he will find me as gentle and tractable as he can desire; but if he be rough, I shall take the trouble to be just as troublesome and offensive to him as I can.”
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“[When opposed by leaders of her Council:] I will make you shorter by the head!”
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“I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown.”
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“I am and am not; freeze, and yet I burn, / Since from myself my other self I turn.”
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“[On being told Mary, Queen of Scots, was taller than she:] Then she is too high, for I myself am neither too high nor too low.”
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“Affection! Affection is false.”
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“It has been always held for a special principle in friendship that prosperity provideth but adversity proveth friends ...”
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“... who seeketh two strings to one bow, they may shoot strong, but never straight ...”
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“Words are leaves, the substance consists of deeds, which are the true fruits of a good tree.”
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“Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmith.”
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“I would not open windows into men's souls.”
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“[On Thomas Seymour's death:] This day died a man of much wit and very little judgment.”
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“Though I be a woman, yet I have as good a courage, answerable to my place, as ever my father had ... I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities, that if I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat, I were able to live in any place in Christendom.”
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“Green wounds scarce abide the toucher's hand.”
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“All my possessions for a moment of time.”
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“Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus.”
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“'Twas Christ the Word that spake it, / The same took bread and brake it, / And as the Word did make it, / So I believe and take it.”
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“Eyes of youth have sharp sight, but commonly not so deep as those of elder age ... ”
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“Often when I am true, I am not believed. / And when I flatter, I am always believed.”
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“No crooked leg, no bleared eye, / No part deformed out of kind, / Nor yet so ugly half can be / As the inward, suspicious mind.”
Elizabeth I, English queen
(1533 - 1603)