Elizabeth I of England Quotes

70 Sourced Quotes

There is small disproportion betwixt a fool who useth not wit because he hath it not and him that useth it not when it should avail him.

Elizabeth I of England
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 of England
To Parliament, when it urged her to marry and settle the succession:
You attend to your own duties and I'll perform mine.

Elizabeth I of England
The use of the sea and air is common to all; neither can a title to the ocean belong to any people or private persons, forasmuch as neither nature nor public use and custom permit any possession thereof.

Elizabeth I of England
It is a natural virtue incident to our sex to be pitiful of those that are afflicted.

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

Elizabeth I of England
Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects.

Elizabeth I of England
Rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns.

Elizabeth I of England
There is no marvel in a woman learning to speak, but there would be in teaching her to hold her tongue

Elizabeth I of England
I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God that I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat, I were able to live in any place in Christome.

Elizabeth I of England
I am come amongst you, as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all — to lay down for my God, and for my kingdoms, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.

Elizabeth I of England
Ye may have a greater prince, but ye shall never have a more loving prince.

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

Elizabeth I of England
Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

Elizabeth I of England
[To the Countess of Nottingham] God may forgive you, but I never can.

Elizabeth I of England
'Twas Christ the Word that spake it,
The same took bread and brake it,
And as the Word did make it,
So I believe and take it.

Elizabeth I of England
Although I may not be a lioness, I am a lion's cub, and inherit many of his qualities; and as long as the King of France treats me gently he will find me as gentle and tractable as he can desire; but if he be rough, I shall take the trouble to be just as troublesome and offensive to him as I can.

Elizabeth I of England
Though I be a woman yet I have as good a courage answerable to my place as ever my father had. I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom.

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

Elizabeth I of England
Encouraging William Cecil, who suffered from gout:
My lord, we make use of you, not for your bad legs, but for your good head.

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

Elizabeth I of England
I shall lend credit to nothing against my people which parents would not believe against their own children.

Elizabeth I of England
Kings were wont to honour philosophers, but if I had such I would honour them as angels that should have such piety in them that they would not seek where they are the second to be the first, and where the third to be the second and so forth.

Elizabeth I of England
Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts.

Elizabeth I of England