Elizabeth I Quotes

Affection! Affection is false. ~ Elizabeth I

[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. ~ Elizabeth I

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head. ~ Elizabeth I

Eyes of youth have sharp sight but commonly not so deep as those of elder age. ~ Elizabeth I

I have never been able to be so allured by the prospect of advantages or so terrified by misfortunes, swayed by honours or fettered by affection, nay not even so smitten by the fear of death, as to enter upon marriage. ~ Elizabeth I

There is an Italian proverb which saith, From my enemy let me defend myself; but from a pretensed friend Lord deliver me ~ Elizabeth I

Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word. ~ Elizabeth I

It is hard to find beauty in the art of self expression. ~ Elizabeth I

He that will forget God, will also forget his benefactors. ~ Elizabeth I

I felt quite a responsibility when I played Elizabeth I but nobody here remembers her! And then I felt a responsibility when I played Queen Victoria but not many people remember her. ~ Judi Dench

Elizabeth, when you look into the darkness you have two choices. You either fall into it, so you'll never fear the unknown again. Or you stay on the ledge, always wondering what's there. Torturing yourself over it. Elizabeth, I live in the abyss, and would like you to leap into the unknown with me. Will you join me? ~ LeeAnn Whitaker

And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter. ~ Jane Austen

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. ~ Elizabeth I

I have already joined myself in marriage to a husband, namely the kingdom of England. ~ Elizabeth I

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

In no issue of foreign policy could her prevarication and indecisiveness be said to have led to disastrous consequences for her country. On the international stage there was no better survivor. At home her achievement can only be judged with hindsight. A combination of good sense and longevity settled the church, and it was no fault of hers that confessional issues became so divisive forty years after her death. She gave her country pride, and set its commercial development on a course that was eventually to be spectacularly successful; for that she deserves more credit than she is usually given. ~ David Loades

Daniel, I did not knowwhat I wanted when I was agirl. And then I was a fool in every sense of the word. And now that I am a woman grown, I know that I love you and I want this son of yours, and our children who will come. I have seen a woman break her heart for love: my Queen Mary. I have seen another break her soul to avoid it: my Princess Elizabeth. I don't want to be Mary or Elizabeth, I want to be me: Hannah Verde Carpenter."
"And we shall live somewhere that we can follow our belifs without danger," he insisted.
"Yes," I said, "in the England that Elizabeth will make. ~ Philippa Gregory

When we hang on to resentments, we poison ourselves. As compulsive overeaters, we cannot afford resentment, since it exacerbates our disease. ~ Elizabeth I

Why do old men grow huge beards as if to proclaim a manhood that has long since fled? ~ Jeane Westin

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without. ~ Elizabeth I

Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths. ~ Elizabeth I

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. ~ Elizabeth I

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king ~ Elizabeth I

I am more afraid of making a fault in my Latin than of the Kings of Spain, France, Scotland, the whole House of Guise, and all of their confederates. ~ Elizabeth I

As for me, I see no such great cause why I should either be fond to live or fear to die. I have had good experience of this world, and I know what it is to be a subject and what to be a sovereign. Good neighbours I have had, and I have met with bad: and in trust I have found treason. ~ Elizabeth I

If silences could be pregnant, then this one went to full term. ~ Alison Weir

There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God. ~ Elizabeth I

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

I give you this charge, that you shall be of my Privy Council and content yourself to take pains for me and my realm. This judgement I have of you, that you will not be corrupted with any manner of gift and that you will be faithful to the State, and that without respect of my private will, you will give me that counsel that you think best: and, if you shall know anything necessary to be declared to me of secrecy, you shall show it to myself only and assure yourself I will not fail to keep taciturnity therein. And therefore herewith I charge you.
Administering the oath of office to William Cecil as Secretary of State, November 20, 1558, as quoted in Elizabeth I: The Word of a Prince, A Life from Contemporary Documents, by Maria Perry, Chapter V, Section: To make a good account to Almighty God ~ Elizabeth I

My seat has been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me. ~ Elizabeth I

The Queen coined new money specifically for the Company {East India}. Minted at the Tower of London and bearing her arms on one side and a portcullis on the other, it soon became know as the portcullis money. She also granted the merchants a new flag which, with its blue field and background of thirteen red and white stripes, prefigured the one adopted by the Thirteen Colonies of America some 175 years later. ~ Giles Milton

Why, if one were Queen, would one ever want to marry? If one is ruler, is it not better to both King and Queen? That is exactly what a woman can do if she remains without a mate. ~ Kathryn Lasky

Like the Elizabeth I play, Queen Elizabeth is a monarch who actually moves with the times. She gets new information, assimilates it, and changes in order the fit in with the way the world is moving. I admire that. ~ Samuel Barnett

I am no lover of pompous title, but only desire that my name may be recorded in a line or two, which shall briefly express my name, my virginity, the years of my reign, the reformation of religion under it, and my preservation of peace. ~ Elizabeth I

Late in the 16th centurt, William Cecil's son, Thomas reortedthat Philip had said that 'whatever he suffered from Queen Elizabeth was the judgement of God because, being married to Queen Elizabeth, whom he though a most virtuous and good lady, yet in the fancy of love he could not affect her; but as for the Lady Elizabeth; he was enamored of her, being a fair and beautiful woman. ~ Alison Weir

(Response to King Erik XIV of Sweden's proposal of marriage:)

"[W]hile we perceive ... the zeal and love of your mind towards us is not diminished, yet in part we are grieved that we cannot gratify your Serene Highness with the same kind of affection. And that indeed does not happen because we doubt in any way of your love and honour, but, as often we have testified both in words and writing, that we have never yet conceived a feeling of that kind of affection towards anyone.

We therefore beg your Serene Highness again and again that you be pleased to set a limit to your love, that it advance not beyond the laws of friendship for the present nor disregard them in the future. ...

We certainly think that if God ever direct our hearts to consideration of marriage we shall never accept or choose any absent husband how powerful and wealthy a Prince soever. But that we are not to give you an answer until we have seen your person is so far from the thing itself that we never even considered such a thing. I have always given both to your brother ... and also to your ambassador likewise the same answer with scarcely any variation of the words, that we do not conceive in our heart to take a husband but highly commend this single life, and hope that your Serene Highness will no longer spend time in waiting for us. ~ Elizabeth I

The word must is not to be used to princes. ~ Elizabeth I

Who seeketh two strings to one bow, they may shoot strong, but never straight ... ~ Elizabeth I

[On Thomas Seymour's death:] This day died a man of much wit and very little judgment. ~ Elizabeth I

I am a huge admirer of Elizabeth I, and this intriguing biography gives a wonderful picture of the era. ~ Barbara Taylor Bradford

Sometimes letting go is not about a lack of faith in God, but a lack in faith that you have it in yourself to pull off the greatest plan he has in store for you. ~ Shannon L. Alder

It is satisfying for the descendant of a dissident refugee from Elizabeth I to present his credentials to Elizabeth II. ~ Kingman Brewster, Jr.

The Queen, in love with love, returned her royal consent. [allowing newlyweds to honeymoon in private instead of appearing at Court to Queen Elizabeth I] ~ Bertrice Small

Burleigh, absolutely; and a lot about Elizabeth. I mean I found when I play Henry V a lot of connections with the hidden history of the connection between Francis Bacon and Elizabeth. ~ Mark Rylance

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. ~ Elizabeth I

[ellipsis in source] it is true that the world was made in six days, but it was by God, to whose power the infirmity of men isnot to be compared. ~ Elizabeth I

Men fight wars. Women win them. ~ Elizabeth I

Prosperity provideth, but adversity proveth friends. ~ Elizabeth I

I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive. ~ Elizabeth I

A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past. ~ Elizabeth I

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. ~ Elizabeth I

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. ~ Elizabeth I

Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst. ~ Elizabeth I

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

A good face is the best letter of recommendation. ~ Elizabeth I

Be always faithful to me, as I always desire to keep you in peace; and if there have been wiser kings, none has ever loved you more than I have. ~ Elizabeth I

I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. ~ Elizabeth I

Robert bowed to the inevitable. The queen's motto, 'I see all and speak nothing. was as well chosen as any motto could be. He had almost made his old mistake of confusing what Elizabeth said with what she would do. ~ Jeane Westin

People who know me well, call me Elizabeth. I dislike Liz. ~ Elizabeth Taylor

I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over! ~ Elizabeth I

She is the rock 'n' roll queen. Weirdly enough, that is one of the things her reign will be remembered for. Queen Elizabeth I, we remember Raleigh; Queen Elizabeth II it's gonna be the Beatles. ~ Paul McCartney

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

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. ~ Elizabeth I

For, what is a family without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch. ~ Elizabeth I

[When opposed by leaders of her Council:] I will make you shorter by the head! ~ Elizabeth I

There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my subjects and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety than myself. For it is my desire to live nor reign no longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall have, any that will be more careful and loving. ~ Elizabeth I

My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourself to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people ... I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any Prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm. ~ Elizabeth I

There's four biggies. There was Elizabeth I, George III, Victoria, and the current queen, who really dominated four eras. ~ Geoffrey Rush

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all. ~ Elizabeth I

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

She had been born knowing that boldness erased fear, while cowardice invited it and earned her only more ill treatment. No matter how she shook with dread in private, she would never show fear before her questioners or her guards. In men's minds fear was a certain mark of guilt. ~ Jeane Westin

He bracketed his waist with his hands and took a deep breath. "The truth is I didn't want to see you or even talk to you until I was me again."
Stunned, she dropped the fork back into her salad bowl. "I'm not sure I'm following," she said cautiously but she knew what he meant. He wanted her to see him when they talked…his face.
He leaned forward, braced his hands on her desk. She inhaled the clean, slightly citrusy scent that was uniquely Joe Hennessey. Her gaze roved his face. Every detail was just as it was before.
Damn she was good.
Elizabeth blinked. Chastised herself for staring. Since he hadn't answered her question he'd obviously paused to take notice of her staring.
She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. "You're going to have to explain what you mean, Agent Hennessey."
"Don't play games with me, Elizabeth," he warned, those blue eyes glinting with what some might consider intimidation. But she knew him better now. That was his predatory gleam. And she was his prey…he wanted her.
"Really, Hennessey, you should be more specific."
"I love you, Elizabeth. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I miss you. I need to be with you."
I…I…I, was this all about him? Let him sweat for a bit.
She shrugged indifferently. "I've been sleeping fine." She glanced at the food in front of her. "Eating fine as well."
He straightened, threw up his hands. "What do you want me to do? Beg?"
That could work, she mused wickedly. ~ Heather Graham

I would not have my sheep branded with any other mark than my own, or follow the whistle of a strange shepherd. ~ Elizabeth I

Life is for living and working at. If you find anything or anybody a bore, the fault is in yourself. ~ Elizabeth I

I observe and remain silent. ~ Elizabeth I

Of course I had written a film about Elizabeth I, and I loved the Tudor period, and I think at the time Working Title and I had debated on whether to do Elizabeth I or Henry VIII. I'd always wanted to do Henry VIII. Like Elizabeth, I'd had this feeling that it had never properly been addressed. ~ Michael Hirst

Quincy laughed. "If I were Elizabeth I shouldn't thank either of you for that comforting diagnosis. Would it do any good to open Aunt Sarai's grave and drive a stake through her? If you believe in as much sorcery as that, you must regret the days of witch-burners, Carew."

Carew said quietly, "No. Witch-burners were barbarous blunderers. If I wanted to suppress a dangerous letter, could I do it by burning the envelope and leaving the letter loose? The witch would come back unchanged; I should merely have postponed the danger until another time and place. And have further handicapped myself to meet it, by depriving the witch, by violent death, of the years allotted her, or him, for evolution."

Joseph said with dry humor, "She might not have used them for that, Carew. At least not for your idea of it."

Carew shrugged. "That would be her responsibility, not mine. And, in any case, she would be that many years nearer the time of her inevitable change."

This time Joseph did not answer, only smiled. ~ Evangeline Walton

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. ~ Elizabeth I

I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything. ~ Elizabeth I

I may not be a lion,but I am lions cub and I have lion's heart ~ Elizabeth I

If you make a movie about Elizabeth I, how much of the dialogue is her real words? Audiences know when they go see a movie that it is fiction. ~ Jean-Jacques Annaud

I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England. ~ Elizabeth I

This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ~ Elizabeth I

We Princes are set as it were upon stages, in the sight and view of all the world. The least spot is soon spied in our garments, a blemish quickly noticed in our doings. ~ Elizabeth I

Elizabeth's whole style of rule was pragmatic and free from preconceptions. It was not that she had no strategic aims, but they were broad and simple. God had entrusted her with three things: a realm to defend; a church to lead in the true way; and a people to protect, both against foreign enemies and against themselves. ~ David Loades

The true sin against the Holy Ghost is ingratitude. ~ Elizabeth I

I would not open windows into men's souls. ~ Elizabeth I

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

At the end of the 1400s, the world changed. Two key dates can mark the beginning of modern times. In 1485, the Wars of the Roses came to an end, and, following the invention of printing, William Caxton issued the first imaginative book to be published in England - Sir Thomas Malory's retelling of the Arthurian legends as Le Morte D'Arthur. In 1492, Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas opened European eyes to the existence of the New World. New worlds, both geographical and spiritual, are the key to the Renaissance, the 'rebirth' of learning and culture, which reached its peak in Italy in the early sixteenth century and in Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, from 1558 to 1603. ~ Ronald Carter

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

Young heads take example of the ancient ~ Elizabeth I

When I was fair and young, and favor graced me,
Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be;
But I did scorn them all, and answered them therefore,
Go, go, go seek some otherwhere!
Importune me no more! ~ Elizabeth I

He groaned and leaned his forehead against hers, "You drive me mad, Elizabeth. I dream I am holding you every night. I wake in a sweat, aching and disappointed. Dreams of you have replaced my nightmares, but they leave me empty and restless and my body on fire. I can't even remember why we argued. I don't care how things went wrong. ~ Judith James

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception. ~ Elizabeth I

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

God forgive you, but I never can. ~ Elizabeth I

The past can not be cured. ~ Elizabeth I

Only danger is real, and difficulty. Yet we live to make our lives safe - and those of others. (..) I will fight my own people to keep them from fighting, for as long as can be. Never fight, until it is unsafe not to fight, unsafe for our souls as well as our bodies. Then fight for their safety, - but when it is won, remember that safety itself is unsafe. For what is safety? It is sleepy thing. It does not make one happy. It does not remind one that it is good to be alive. Life is taken for granted, so it is no longer surprise. It grows dull and monotonous, one lives as a tree or a cabbage or a cow in the straw of the byre. Our forefathers scorned "a straw death". A straw life is worse. ~ Margaret Irwin

I know Jane is dear to you," Bess said. "I also know that she's in danger. But Jane is one person, Edward. There are thousands of lives at stake. There's a kingdom on the edge of a knife. We must tread carefully. ~ Cynthia Hand

Elizabeth I was my favourite monarch though, what an inspiration, she did great things for women. ~ Kirsty Gallacher