Great Throughts Treasury

"I will never be by violence constrained to do anything."

"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."

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

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

"I, a virgin, can make my frank boast that I communicate to no mortal man my secret counsels except to such as I have chosen on account of their taciturnity; then, if these secrets are later discovered, I know whom to accuse."

"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."

"If I were turned out of my realm in my petticoat, I would prosper anywhere in Christendom."

"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."

"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."

"If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all."

"If we still advise we shall never do."

"It breedeth no small offence and scandal to see and consider upon the one part the curiosity and cost bestowed by all sorts of men upon their private houses; and on the other part the unclean and negligent order and spare keeping of the houses of prayer by permitting open decays and ruins of coverings of walls and windows, and by appointing unmeet and unseemly tables with foul cloths for the communion of the sacrament."

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

"It is monstrous that the feet should direct the head."

"It is not my desire to live or to reign longer than my life and reign shall be for your good."

"It is true that the world was made in six days, but it was by God, to whose power the infirmity of men is not to be compared."

"It seems incredible, and I love them no less; and I can say that I would rather die than see any diminution of it on one side or the other."

"It would please me best if, at the last, a marble stone shall record that this Queen having lived such and such a time, lived and died a virgin."

"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."

"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."

"Let this my discipline stand you in good stead of sorer strokes, never to tempt too far a Prince's patience."

"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."

"Madame d'Estampes and Madame de Valentinois make me fear that I should be only honoured by my husband as a queen and not loved by him as a woman."

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

"Mortua—sed non sepulta! Mortua—sed non sepulta! [Dead—but not buried! Dead—but not buried!]"

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

"Much suspected by me, nothing proved can be."

"Must is not a word to be used to princes! Little man, little man, if your late father were here he would never dare utter such a word."

"My lord, the crown which I have borne so long has given enough of vanity in my time. I beseech you not to augment it in this hour when I am so near my death."

"My mind was never to invade my neighbors."

"My Lords, do whatever you wish. As for me, I shall do no otherwise than pleases me."

"My loving people,—We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but, I do assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear."

"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. His too familiar care doth make me rue it. No means I find to rid him from my breast, till by the end of things it be supprest. Some gentler passion slide into my mind, for I am soft and made of melting snow; or be more cruel, love, and so be kind. Let me or float or sink, be high or low. Or let me live with some more sweet content, or die and so forget what love ere meant."

"No prince herein, I confess, can be silver tied or faster bound than I am with the link of your good will."

"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."

"No foreign banished weight shall anchor in this port; Our realm it brooks no stranger's force, let them elsewhere resort."

"Princes have big ears which hear far and near."

"Rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns."

"Proud Prelate, you know what you were before I made you what you are. If you do not immediately comply with my request, I will unfrock you, by God!"

"That milkmaid's lot is better than mine, and her life merrier."

"The daughter of debate, that eke discord doth sow, shall reap no gain where former rule hath taught still peace to"

"The stone often recoils on the head of the thrower."

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

"The end crowneth the work."

"The word must is not to be used to princes."

"The use of the 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 thereof."

"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."

"There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel; I mean your love."

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

"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."