Elizabeth I Quotes - Page 5

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.

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.

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

[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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

[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.

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

Young heads take example of the ancient

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

If we still advise we shall never do.

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

Hang Irish harpers wherever found.

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.

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.

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.

The end crowneth the work.

The word must is not to be used to princes.