James Shirley Quotes

9 Sourced Quotes

Death calls ye to the crowd of common men.

James Shirley
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.

James Shirley
The honour is overpaid,
When he that did the act is commentator.

James Shirley
The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.

James Shirley
Devouring Famine, Plague, and War,
Each able to undo mankind,
Death's servile emissaries are;
Nor to these alone confined,
He hath at will
More quaint and subtle ways to kill;
A smile or kiss, as he will use the art,
Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart.

James Shirley
How little room
Do we take up in death that, living, know No bounds!

James Shirley
Knaves will thrive when honest plainness knows not how to live.

James Shirley
When our souls shall leave this dwelling, the glory of one fair and virtuous action is above all the 'scutcheons on our tomb, or silken banners over us.

James Shirley
Hark, how chimes the passing bell! There's no music to a knell; All the other sounds we hear, Flatter, and but cheat our ear. This doth put us still in mind That our flesh must be resigned, And, a general silence made, The world be muffled in a shade.

James Shirley