Henry VIII (play)

"Order gave each thing view."

"No man’s pie is freed From his ambitious finger."

"Anger is like A full-hot horse, who being allow’d his way, Self-mettle tires him."

"Be to yourself As you would to your friend."

"Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot That it do singe yourself."

"'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake That virtue must go through."

"The mirror of all courtesy."

"This bold bad man."

"'Tis better to be lowly born, And range with humble livers in content, Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief, And wear a golden sorrow."

"Orpheus, with his lute, made trees, And the mountain-tops that freeze, Bow themselves when he did sing."

"'Tis well said again, And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well; And yet, words are no deeds."

"Read o'er this; And after, this: and then to breakfast with What appetite you have."

"I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness; And, from that full meridian of my glory, I haste now to my setting: I shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening, And no man see me more."

"Press not a falling man too far!"

"Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness! This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him; The third day comes a frost, a killing frost, And, — when he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is a-ripening, — nips his root, And then he falls, as I do. I have ventur'd, Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many summers in a sea of glory, But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride At length broke under me; and now has left me, Weary and old with service, to the mercy Of a rude stream, that must forever hide me. Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye! I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favours! There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to, That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin, More pangs and fears than wars or women have; And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, Never to hope again."

"I feel within me A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience."

"A load would sink a navy, — too much honour."

"And sleep in dull cold marble."

"Say, Wolsey, — that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour, — Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in; A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it."

"I charge thee, fling away ambition; By that sin fell the angels."

"Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim’st at, be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s; then if thou fall’st, O Cromwell, Thou fall’st a blessed martyr!"

"Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies."

"A royal train, believe me."

"An old man, broken with the storms of state, Is come to lay his weary bones among ye; Give him a little earth for charity!"

"He gave his honours to the world again, His blessed part to heaven, and slept in peace."

"So may he rest; his faults lie gently on him!"

"He was a man Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking Himself with princes."

"Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water."

"He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one; Exceeding wise, fair-spoken, and persuading: Lofty and sour to them that lov'd him not; But to those men that sought him, sweet as summer, And though he were unsatisfied in getting, (Which was a sin) yet in bestowing, madam, He was most princely."

"After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep mine honour from corruption, But such an honest chronicler as Griffith."

"To dance attendance on their lordships’ pleasures."

"'Tis a cruelty, To load a falling man."

"You were ever good at sudden commendations, Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not To hear such flattery now; and in my presence, They are too thin and bare to hide offences."

"Those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honour."

"Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine, His honour and the greatness of his name Shall be, and make new nations."

"A most unspotted lily shall she pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her."