Oliver Cromwell Quotes

For that which you mention concerning liberty of conscience, I meddle not with any man's conscience.

We are Englishmen; that is one good fact.

A man never rises higher than when he does not know whither his path can still lead him.

Those who stop being better stop being good.

I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.

Who can love to walk in the dark? But providence doth often so dispose.

Work hard, trust in God, and keep your bowels open.

Because I fear God, I have no man to fear.

There isn't a tree to hang a man, water to drown a man nor soil to bury a man

Sir, what can be said of these things? Is it the arm of the flesh that hath done these things? Is it the wisdom and counsel, or strength of man? It is the Lord only. God will curse that man and his house that dares to think otherwise. Sir, you see the work is done by a Divine leading. God gets into the hearts of men, and persuades them to come under you.

Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities, are the greatest cozenage men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.

He who stops being better stops being good.

Subtlety may deceive you; intedrity never will.

Does a man speak foolishly?
suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously?
stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot be gainsaid. Does he speak truly?
rejoice in the truth.

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

-Oliver Cromwell on the Dissolution of Parliament (April 20, 1653)

That which brought me into the capacity I now stand in, was the Petition and Advice given me by you, who, in reference to the ancient Constitution, did draw me here to accept the place of Protector. There is not a man living can say I sought it, no not a man, nor woman, treading upon English ground.

I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power and resolution for foes to tremble at.

Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy, to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition that he may abuse it.

Paint me as I am. If you leave out the scars and wrinkles, I will not pay you a shilling.

It's a blessed thing to die daily. For what is there in this world to be accounted of! The best men according to the flesh, and things, are lighter than vanity. I find this only good, to love the Lord and his poor despised people, to do for them and to be ready to suffer with them ... and he that is found worthy of this hath obtained great favour from the Lord; and he that is established in this shall ( being conformed to Christ and the rest of the Body) participate in the glory of a resurrection which will answer all.

I have learned that if you fear God, you have no one else to fear.

A few honest men are better than numbers.

You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!

Opportunity is sometimes hard to recognize if you're only looking for a lucky break.

I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a Gentle-man and is nothing else.

A man-of-war is the best ambassador.

A mattoid is a miscreant who seeks to elevate himself by destroying society. Examples include the Rothschilds, David Rockefeller, Franklin Roosevelt, Meyer Lansky, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Hamilton, and Josef Stalin. Often mattoids are of high intelligence, tainted geniuses, despite their flawed character and lack of any morality.

Necessity has no law.

There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental ... about which I shall deal plainly with you ... the government by a single person and a parliament is a fundamental ... and ... though I may seem to plead for myself, yet I do not: no, nor can any reasonable man say it ... I plead for this nation, and all the honest men therein.

WEEDS AND NETTLES, BRIARS AND THORNS, HAVE THRIVEN UNDER YOUR SHADOW, DISSETTLEMENT AND DIVISION, DISCONTENTMENT AND DISSATISFACTION, TOGETHER WITH REAL DANGERS TO THE WHOLE.

Nature can do more than physicians.

Do not trust to the cheering, for those very persons would shout as much if you and I were going to be hanged.

God made them as stubble to our swords.

I do not believe that this is an evil king. But he is confused. And he cannot say no to his wife. Therefore if it please God I shall raise an army of men who are not confused. Stern men who say no to the tyranny of kings and wives. Men who make no confusion over the ordained place of man and woman, king and subject. And with these stern, God-fearing men, I shall ride. And we shall be called Ironsides because we are like iron, being hard both day and night. And the king shall find us unyielding, like a rod of iron, and shall give us satisfaction. Like our wives!

Our manly ways and stern simplicity wreak much confusion to the enemy's councils. For they are men yet garb themselves as women, wearing wigs and finery and lace. And for this offense if it be God's will we will come upon them in the night, from the rear, and penetrate their degenerate bodies with our holy truth. For we are manly saints and possess the full swelling hardness of our faith, which gushes forevermore from Christ's unyielding root.

We study the glory of God, and the honour and liberty of parliament, for which we unanimously fight, without seeking our own interests ... I profess I could never satisfy myself on the justness of this war, but from the authority of the parliament to maintain itself in its rights; and in this cause I hope to prove myself an honest man and single-hearted.

Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.

My prayer is that God give me no longer life than I shall be glad to use mine office in edification, and not in destruction.

Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.

What is all our histories, but God showing himself, shaking and trampling on everything that he has not planted.

Royalty is but a feather in a man's cap; let children enjoy their rattle.