John Lyly Quotes

Nothing so perilous as procrastination

Where the streame runneth smoothest, the water is deepest.

In arguing of the shadow, we forgo the substance.

The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war.

Whilst that the childe is young, let him be instructed in vertue and lytterature.

A bargain is a bargain.

As love knoweth no lawes, so it regardeth no conditions

Let the falling out of friends be a renewing of affection.

Rather fast then surfette, rather starue then striue to exceede.

I have ever thought so superstitiously of wit, that I fear I have committed idolatry against wisdom.

When parents put gold into the hands of youth, when they should put a rod under their girdle
when instead of awe they make them past grace, and leave them rich executors of goods, and poor executors of godliness, then it is no marvel that the son being left rich by his father's will, becomes reckless by his own will.

Though women have small force to overcome men by reason; yet have they good fortune to undermine them by policy.

Lette me stande to the maine chance.

Instruments sound sweetest when they are touched softest.

It is far more seemly
to have thy Studie full of Bookes,
than thy Purse full of money.

Thou art an heyre to fayre lying, that is nothing, if thou be disinherited of learning, for better were it to thee to inherite righteousnesse then riches, and far more seemly were if for thee to haue thy Studie full of bookes, then thy pursse full of mony.

If all the earth were paper white / And all the sea were ink / 'Twere not enough for me to write / As my poor heart doth think.

A Rose is sweeter in the budde than full blowne.

A clear conscience is a sure card.

An Englishman hath three qualities, he can suffer no partner in his love, no stranger to be his friend, nor to be dared by any.

Long quaffing maketh a short lyfe.

All men [are] of one metal, but not in one mold.

All fish are not caught with flies

To love women and never enjoy them, is as much to love wine and never taste it.

Where the countenance is fair, there need no colors.

To give reason for fancy were to weigh the fire, and measure the wind.

The sun shineth upon the dunghill, and is not corrupted.

He that comes in print because he would be known, is like the fool that comes into the market because he would be seen.

Maydens, be they never so foolyshe, yet beeing fayre they are commonly fortunate.

The bee that hath honey in her mouth hath a sting in her tail.

Children and fooles speake true.

The fallyng out of faithfull frends is the renuyng of loue.

A merry companion is as good as a wagon.

I thank you for nothing, because I understand nothing.

Things of greatest profit are set forth with least price. Where the wine is neat there needeth no live blush.

The measure of love is to have no mean, the end to be everlasting.

When adversities flow, then love ebbs; but friendship standeth stiffly in storms.

If love be a god, why should not lovers be virtuous?

If thy wealth waste, they wit will give but small warmth.

The greatest harm that you can do unto the envious, is to do well.

It is a world to see.

The greater the kindred is, the lesse the kindnesse must bee.

We might knit that knot with our tongues that we shall never undo with our teeth.

The empty vessel giveth a greater sound than the full barrel.

Time draweth wrinkles in a fair face, but addeth fresh colors to a fast friend, which neither heat, nor cold, nor misery, nor place, nor destiny, can alter or diminish

As lyke as one pease is to another.

The night has a thousand eyes.

Thou shalt come out of a warme Sunne into God's blessing.

The broken bone, once set together, is stronger than ever.

Lips are no part of the head, only made for a double-leaf door for the mouth.

There can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.

Far more seemly to have thy study full of books, than thy purse full of money.

For experience teacheth me that straight trees have crooked roots.

A comely olde man as busie as a bee.

Fish and guests in three days are stale.

He that loseth his honesty hath nothing else to lose.