Elizabeth I Quotes:

To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it.

Topics: Kings, Reality, Crowns, Queen Of England

Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested.

source: - "Dating In Midlife And What Secrets To Reveal" by Barbara Hannah Grufferman, www.huffingtonpost.com. January 27, 2012.

Topics: Silence, Secret

All my possessions for a moment of time.

Topics: Time, Moments, Last Words, Managing Time, Famous Last Words

I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman.

source: - "The Public Speaking of Queen Elizabeth: Selections from Her Official Addresses".

Topics: Love, Queens, Husband

I will have but one mistress and no master

Topics: Mistress, Masters

There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles.

Topics: Jesus, Christ, Disputes

I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.

source: - Statement to the envoy of Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg, January 26, 1563.

Topics: Marriage, Queens, Mother And Daughter, Queen Of England

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.

Topics: Kings, Kindness, Long, Cubs, Lioness

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception.

Topics: Hype, Deception, Praying, I Pray, I Pray To God

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.

source: - Speech to troops at Tilbury, England (1588).

Topics: Kings, Women, Heart, Women Equality, Kings And Queens

Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind.

Topics: Strong Women, Sex, Rocks

Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.

Topics: Money, Shining, Ignorant, Brass

Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts.

Topics: Lions, Beast, Destruction

The stone often recoils on the head of the thrower.

Topics: Stones, Recoil, Throwers

He who placed me in this seat will keep me here.

If we still advise we shall never do.

Topics: Advise, Stills

A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food.

Topics: Beer, Perfect, Meals, Perfect Food, Bread And Cheese

And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, 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 kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too.

Topics: Leadership, Sports, Kings

Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst

Topics: Worst

I observe and remain silent.

Topics: Silent, Diplomacy

Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

Topics: Witty, Anger, Men, Anger Inside, Queen Of England

I have already joined myself in marriage to a husband, namely the kingdom of England.

Topics: Husband, Kingdoms, England

I may not be a lion,but I am lions cub and I have lion's heart

Topics: Heart, Lions, May

If I follow the inclination of my nature, it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married.

Topics: Queens, Being Single, Dignity

The past cannot be cured.

Topics: Past

I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown.

Topics: Suffering, Crowns, Reputation, Unworthy

Be always faithful to me, as I always desire to keep you in peace; and if there have been wiser kings, none has ever loved you more than I have.

Topics: Loyalty, Peace, Faithful

I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say I ever meant, I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate. I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned, Since from myself another self I turned. My care is like my shadow in the sun, Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it, Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.

Topics: Hate, Lying, Grieving, Queen Of England

There is no marvel in a woman learning to speak, but there would be in teaching her to hold her tongue

Topics: Teaching, Would Be, Tongue

Much suspected by me, Nothing proved can be

Topics: Queen Of England

It is hard to find beauty in the art of self expression.

Topics: Art, Self, Expression

[I]n the end this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a Queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin.

Topics: Queens, Stones, Ends

... [ellipsis in source] it is true that the world was made in six days, but it was by God, to whose power the infirmity of men isnot to be compared.

Topics: Time, Men, World

There is a close tie of affection between sovereigns and their subjects; and as chaste wives should have no eyes but for their husbands, so faithful liegemen should keep their regards at home and not look after foreign crowns. For my part I like not for my sheep to wear a stranger's mark nor to dance after a foreigner's whistle.

Topics: Husband, Eye, Home

Let the good service of well-deservers be never rewarded with loss. Let their thanks be such as may encourage more strivers for the like.

Topics: Loss, Thanks, Good Service, Strivers

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.

Topics: Thank God, Quality, Queen Of England, Christendom

When I was fair and young, and favor graced me, Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be; But I did scorn them all, and answered them therefore, "Go, go, go seek some otherwhere! Importune me no more!

Topics: Rejection, Mistress, Scorn

Life is for living and working at. If you find anything or anybody a bore, the fault is in yourself.

Topics: Bored, Faults, Life Is

Mr. Doctor, that loose gown becomes you so well I wonder your notions should be so narrow.

Topics: Thoughtful, Thinking, Morality

There is nothing in the world I hold in greater horror than to see a body moving against its head: and I shall be very careful notto ally myself with such a monster.

Topics: Moving, World, Revolution

Be of good cheer, for you will never want, for the bullet was meant for me, though it hit you.

Topics: Cheer, Good Cheer, Monarchy

Although my royal rank causes me to doubt whether my kingdom is not more sought after than myself, yet I understand that you havefound other graces in me.

Topics: Marriage, Grace, Doubt

I would gladly chastise those who represent things as different from what they are. Those who steal property or make counterfeit money are punished, and those ought to be still more severely dealt with who steal away or falsify the good name of a prince.

Topics: Deception, Different, Stealing, Counterfeit Money

The name of a successor is like the tolling of my own death-bell!

Topics: Death, Dying, Monarchy

Have a care over my people. You have my people--do you that which I ought to do. They are my people.... See unto them--see unto them, for they are my charge.... I care not for myself; my life is not dear to me. My care is for my people. I pray God, whoever succeedeth me, be as careful of them as I am.

Topics: People, Care, Praying

If there were two princes in Christendom who had good will and courage, it would be very easy to reconcile the religious difficulties; there is only one Jesus Christ and one faith, and all the rest is a dispute over trifles.

Topics: Religious, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christendom

I regret the unhappiness of princes who are slaves to forms and fettered by caution.

Topics: Regret, Slave, Unhappiness

If our web be framed with rotten handles, when our loom is well nigh done, our work is new to begin. God send the weaver true prentices again, and let them be denizens.

Topics: Integrity, Work, Done, Weavers

Grief never ends, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith: it is the price of love.

Topics: Grief, Weakness, Ends, Death And Grieving, Death Grieving

Men fight wars. Women win them.

Topics: War, Fighting, Winning

A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing.

Topics: Innocence, Innocent, Fear Nothing

Words are leaves, the substance consists of deeds, which are the true fruits of a good tree.

Topics: Tree, Substance, Deeds

I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything.

Topics: Heart, Men, Not Afraid

Prosperity provideth, but adversity proveth friends.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.117, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Adversity, Prosperity

I cannot find it in me to fear a man who took ten years a learning of his alphabet.

Topics: Learning, Men, Years

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.

Topics: Men, Dozen, Shoulders, One Man

Chastity is the ermine of woman's soul.

Topics: Soul, Chastity

When we hang on to resentments, we poison ourselves. As compulsive overeaters, we cannot afford resentment, since it exacerbates our disease.

Topics: Drinking, Poison, Disease, Drinking Poison

[To Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, on his return from self-imposed exile, occasioned by the embarrassing flatulence he had experienced in the presence of the Queen:] My Lord, I had forgot the fart.

Topics: Queens, Self, Oxford, Flatulence

Eyes of youth have sharp sight but commonly not so deep as those of elder age.

source: - Elizabeth I, Leah S. Marcus, Janel Mueller, Mary Beth Rose (2000). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.386, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Educational, Eye, Sight

[To Parliament, when it urged her to marry and settle the succession:] You attend to your own duties and I'll perform mine.

Topics: Settling, Parliament, Duty, Assertiveness

I will never be by violence constrained to do anything.

source: - Speech to Members of Parliament, 5 Nov. 1566

Topics: Violence

The true sin against the Holy Ghost is ingratitude.

Topics: Gratitude, Ghost, Sin

God forgive you, but I never can.

Topics: Forgiving, God Forgives, Queen Of England

A good face is the best letter of recommendation.

Topics: Letters, Faces, Recommendations

Who seeketh two strings to one bow, they may shoot strong, but never straight.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.262, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Strong, Two, May

I will have here but one mistress and no master.

source: - "The Wit and Wisdom of Queen Bess".

Topics: Mistress, Masters

There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God.

Topics: World, Causes, Royalty

I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.

source: - "Fictional character: Elizabeth". "Elizabeth", www.imdb.com. 1998.

Topics: Soul, Desire, Window

A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past.

Topics: Stupid, Past, Too Late

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.

Topics: Leadership, Thinking, Safety, Health And Safety

There is nothing about which I am more anxious than my country, and for its sake I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be possible.

Topics: Country, Sake, Anxious, Monarchs, Willing To Die

There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my subjects and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety than myself. For it is my desire to live nor reign no longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall have, any that will be more careful and loving.

source: - Farewell Speech to the House of Commons, en.wikisource.org. November 30, 1601.

Topics: Wise, Country, Queens, Desire To Live

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.

Topics: Kings, Latin, Scotland

Affection! Affection is false.

Topics: Affection

As for my own part I care not for death, for all men are mortal; and though I be a woman yet I have as good a courage answerable to my place as ever my father had. I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am indeed endowed 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.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.97, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Queens, Father, Men, Queen Of England

I have seen many a man turn his gold into smoke, but you are the first who has turned smoke into gold.

Topics: Men, Smoking, Gold

He that will forget God, will also forget his benefactors.

Topics: Forget, Gods Will, Benefactors

The doubt of future foes exiles my present joy.

source: - c.1568 'The Doubt of Future Foes'.

Topics: Joy, Doubt, Exile

I don't keep a dog and bark myself.

Topics: Dog, Bark, Delegation

There is an Italian proverb which saith, From my enemy let me defend myself; but from a pretensed friend Lord deliver me

Topics: Italian, Enemy, Lord, Italian Proverb

Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states.

Topics: War, Enemy, Danger, Instigators

Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects.

source: - Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu. August 19, 1588.

Topics: Heart, Tyrants, Loyal

This is the Lord's doing. And it is marvelous in our eyes.

source: - "Fictional character: Elizabeth". "Elizabeth", www.imdb.com. 1998.

Topics: Eye, Old Testament, Lord, Queen Of England, Marvelous

I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.

Topics: Alive, Should, Graves

It is good to jest, but not to make a trade of jesting.

Topics: Jest, Trade

It is monstrous that the feet should direct the head.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.98, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Leadership, Feet, Should

My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourself to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any Prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm.

source: - Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu. August 19, 1588.

Topics: Kings, Heart, Thinking, Desire To Live

Where minds differ and opinions swerve there is scant a friend in that company.

Topics: Mind, Opinion, Swerve

Of myself I must say this, I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait fast-holding prince, nor yet a master; my heart was never set on worldly goods, but only for my subjects' good.

Topics: Heart, Greedy, Masters, Scraping

Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: That I have reigned with your loves.

source: - The Golden Speech, 1601, in 'The Journals of All the Parliaments During the Reign of Queen Elizabeth'... Collected by Sir Simonds D'Ewes (1682) p. 659

Topics: Love, Crowns, Glory, Queen Of England

I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people. Therefore I have cause to wish nothing more than to content the subject and that is a duty which I owe. Neither do I desire to live longer days than I may see your prosperity and that is my only desire.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.337, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Queens, People, Wish, Longer Days, Queen Of England

They best pass over the world who trip over it quickly; for it is but a bog. If we stop, we sink.

Topics: World, Bogs, Over It, Worldliness

I would not open windows into men's souls.

source: - ??

Topics: Men, Soul, Civil Rights

[When opposed by leaders of her Council:] I will make you shorter by the head!

Topics: Anger, Leader, Council

My seat has been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me.

Topics: Kings, Speaking Up, Succeed, Rascals

[On Thomas Seymour's death:] This day died a man of much wit and very little judgment.

Topics: Men, Littles, Wit

I plucke up the goodlie greene herbes of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, chawe them by musing, and laie them up at length in the hie seate of memorie by gathering them together; that I, having tasted the sweetenes, l may the lesse perceave the bitternes of this miserable life.

Topics: Reading, Together, Gathering, Pruning, Musings

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head.

Topics: Strength, Reality, Hands

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.

source: - Quoted in Christian Review, Oct. 1846

Topics: Father, Men, Alive, Assertiveness

The use of sea and air is common to all; neither can a title to the ocean belong to any people or private persons, forasmuch as neither nature nor public use and custom permit any possession therof.

Topics: Nature, Ocean, Science, Oceans And Seas, Queen Of England

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

source: - Lines after Sir Walter Ralegh, written on a window-pane: Thomas Fuller 'Worthies of England' vol. 1, p. 419.

Topics: Heart, Climbing, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Queen Of England

There is small disproportion betwixt a fool who useth not wit because he hath it not and him that useth it not when it should avail him.

Topics: Wisdom, Fool, Should

I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.59, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Husband, Kingdoms, England

The daughter of debate That still discord doth sow.

Topics: Daughter, Argument, Debate

Princes have big ears which hear far and near.

Topics: Loss, Ears, Bigs, Hearing Loss

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.

Topics: Able, Affection, Fear Of Death, Smitten

It has been always held for a special principle in friendship that prosperity provideth but adversity proveth friends.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.117, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Friends, Adversity, Special

No foteball player be used or suffered within the City of London and the liberties thereof upon pain of imprisonment.

source: - 1572 Royal proclamation, banning football from the streets of London.

Topics: Pain, Player, Cities, City Of London

I pluck up the good lissome herbs of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, digest them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory.

Topics: Memories, Reading, Pruning

I will be as good unto ye as ever a Queen was unto her people. No will in me can lack, neither do I trust shall there lack any power. And persuade yourselves that for the safety and quietness of you all I will not spare if need be to spend my blood.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.54, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Queens, Blood, People

Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus.

Topics: Discrimination, Lord, Inequality

Answer on being asked her opinion of Christ's presence in the Sacrament. 'Twas God the word that spake it, He took the Bread and brake it; And what the word did make it That I believe, and take it.

source: - Answer on being asked her opinion of Christ's presence in the Sacrament, in S. Clarke 'The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History' (1675) pt. 2, bk. 1 'The Life of Queen Elizabeth' p. 94

Topics: Believe, Doctrine, Answers

Ye may have a greater prince, but ye shall never have a more loving prince.

Topics: May, Greater

I am no lover of pompous title, but only desire that my name may be recorded in a line or two, which shall briefly express my name, my virginity, the years of my reign, the reformation of religion under it, and my preservation of peace.

Topics: Peace, Years, Names, Pompous

[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.

Topics: Queens, Lows, Mary

Where might is mixed with wit, there is too good an accord in a government.

Topics: Government, Might, Wit

God has given such brave soldiers to this Crown that, if they do not frighten our neighbours, at least they prevent us from being frightened by them.

Topics: Bravery, Scary, Soldier, Brave Soldiers

I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over!

Topics: Shepherds, Ashes, Reign

Young heads take example of the ancient

Topics: Example, Ancient, Young

O Fortune, how thy restless, wavering state has fraught with cares my troubled wit!

Topics: Care, Wavering, Woe

It is a natural virtue incident to our sex to be pitiful of those that are afflicted.

source: - Elizabeth I, Leah S. Marcus, Janel Mueller, Mary Beth Rose (2000). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.223, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Sex, Virtue, Natural

My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England's hate; neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.248, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Hate, Wish, Demise, Queen Of England, Mishaps

I shall lend credit to nothing against my people which parents would not believe against their own children.

Topics: Children, Believe, People

The sea, as well as the air, is a free and common thing to all; and a particular nation cannot pretend to have the right to the exclusion of all others, without violating the rights of nature and public usage.

Topics: Freedom, Rights, Air, Common Things

Hang Irish harpers wherever found.

Topics: Found, Harper

The end crowneth the work.

Topics: Ends

Though I am not imperial, and though Elizabeth may not deserve it, the Queen of England will easily deserve to have an emperor's son to marry.

Topics: Queens, Son, May, Queen Of England

If I should say the sweetest speech with the eloquentest tongue that ever was in man, I were not able to express that restless care which I have ever bent to govern for the greatest wealth.

Topics: Men, Greatest Wealth, Tongue

The word must is not to be used to princes.

source: - 1603 To Robert Cecil when, during her last illness, he told her that she must go to bed. Quoted in Christopher Haigh Elizabeth I (1988), p.24.

Topics: Used

As for me, I see no such great cause why I should either be fond to live or fear to die. I have had good experience of this world, and I know what it is to be a subject and what to be a sovereign. Good neighbours I have had, and I have met with bad: and in trust I have found treason.

source: - Speech to Parliament, 1586, in William Camden 'Annales rerum anglicanum' (1615) bk. 3

Topics: Fear, Causes, World, Good Experiences

Kings were wont to honour philosophers, but if I had such I would honour them as angels that should have such piety in them that they would not seek where they are the second to be the first, and where the third to be the second and so forth.

source: - Elizabeth I (2002). “Elizabeth I: Collected Works”, p.96, University of Chicago Press

Topics: Kings, Angel, Should Have

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.

Topics: Sight, Views, World