Francis Quarles Quotes

The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.

The general goodness, which is nourished in noble hearts makes every one think that strength of virtue to be in another whereof they find assured foundation in themselves.

To be at once exceedingly wealthy and good is impossible.

The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.

Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish.

Riches are valuable at all times, and to all men, because they always purchase pleasures such as men are accustomed to and desire; nor can anything restrain or regulate the love of money but a sense of honor and virtue, which, if it be not nearly equal at all times, will naturally abound most in ages of knowledge and refinement.

No people ever yet benefited by riches if their prosperity corrupted their virtue.

If I can only keep my good name, I shall have riches enough.

The mate for beauty should be a man and not a money chest.

There are no temptations from which assailed virtue may not gain strength, instead of falling before them, vanquished and subdued.

When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they cultivated their personal character, and became illustrious in the world. If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole empire virtuous as well.

Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should hazard his quiet, and much less his virtue, to obtain it, for all that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune is more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice, a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness.

The universal regard for money is the one hopeful fact in our civilization. Money is the most important thing in the world. It represents health, strength, honor, generosity and beauty . . . . Not the least of its virtues is that it destroys basic people as certainly as it fortifies and dignifies noble people.

A good leg will fall; a straight back will stoop; a black beard will turn white; a curl'd pate will grow bald; a fair face will wither; a full eye will wax hollow: but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon; or, rather, the sun, and not the moon, — for it shines bright, and never changes, but keeps his course truly.

Even a falling star still shines.

Without virtue it is difficult to bear gracefully the honors of fortune.

For me faith is the foundation and support of one's life.

Love is a beautiful image Imagined or seen within the heart, The friend of virtue and gentility.

Recommend virtue to your children, that alone - not wealth - can give happiness. It upholds in adversity and the thought of it and my art prevents me from putting an end to my life.

Health, power, riches, possessions and honor can be snatched from you, but your will is irrevocably your own.

If there be any one whose power is in beauty, in purity, in goodness, it is a woman.

The great danger of riches is that our affections will be carried away from God to His gifts.

From the Sun I learned this: when he goes down, overrich; he pours gold into the sea out of inexhaustible riches, so that even the poorest fisherman still rows with golden oars. For this I once saw and I did not tire of my tears as I watched it.