John Lyly Quotes

51 Sourced Quotes

Cupid and my Campaspe play'd
At cards for kisses—Cupid paid:
He stakes his quiver, bow, and arrows,
His mother's doves, and team of sparrows;
Loses them too; then down he throws
The coral of his lips, the rose
Growing on 's cheek (but none knows how);
With these, the crystal of his brow,
And then the dimple of his chin:
All these did my Campaspe win.
At last he set her both his eyes—
She won, and Cupid blind did rise.
O Love! has she done this for thee?
What shall, alas! become of me?

John Lyly
That honourable estate of Matrimony, which was sanctified in Paradise, allowed of the Patriarches, hallowed of the olde Prophets, and commended of al persons.

John Lyly
Rather fast then surfette, rather starue then striue to exceede.

John Lyly
As the best wine doth make the sharpest vinegar, so the deepest love turneth to the deadliest hate.

John Lyly
I have ever thought so superstitiously of wit, that I fear I have committed idolatry against wisdom.

John Lyly
Be valiant, but not too venturous. Let thy attire be comely, but not costly.

John Lyly
I have not yet forgot the invective (I cannot term it any other) which you made against beauty, calling it a deceitful bait with a deadly hook.

John Lyly
Where the streame runneth smoothest, the water is deepest.

John Lyly
Maidens, be they never so foolish, yet being fair they are commonly fortunate.

John Lyly
The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.

John Lyly
To give reason for fancy were to weigh the fire, and measure the wind.

John Lyly
When adversities flow, then love ebbs; but friendship standeth stiffly in storms.

John Lyly
Though the Camomill, the more it is trodden and pressed downe the more it spreadeth.

John Lyly
A heat full of coldness, a sweet full of bitterness, a pain full of pleasantness, which maketh thoughts have eyes and hearts ears, bred by desire, nursed by delight, weaned by jealousy, kill'd by dissembling, buried by ingratitude, and this is love.

John Lyly
For experience teacheth me that straight trees have crooked roots.

John Lyly
He reckoneth without his Hostesse. Love knoweth no lawes.

John Lyly
A rose is sweeter in the bud than full-blown.

John Lyly
It seems to me (said she) that you are in some brown study.

John Lyly
Go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark.

John Lyly
Maydens, be they never so foolyshe, yet beeing fayre they are commonly fortunate.

John Lyly
The greatest harm that you can do unto the envious, is to do well.

John Lyly