Oliver Cromwell Quotes

46 Sourced Quotes

The State, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions. If they be willing faithfully to serve it, that satisfies.

Oliver Cromwell
I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that you call a Gentleman and is nothing else.

Oliver Cromwell
I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.

Oliver Cromwell
We declared our intentions to preserve monarchy, and they still are so, unless necessity enforce an alteration. It's granted the king has broken his trust, yet you are fearful to declare you will make no further addresses... look on the people you represent, and break not your trust, and expose not the honest party of your kingdom, who have bled for you, and suffer not misery to fall upon them for want of courage and resolution in you, else the honest people may take such courses as nature dictates to them.

Oliver Cromwell
Weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.

Oliver Cromwell
Shall we seek for the root of our comforts within us; what God hath done, what he is to us in Christ, is the root of our comfort. In this is stability; in us is weakness. Acts of obedience are not perfect, and therefore yield not perfect peace. Faith, as an act, yields it not, but as it carries us into him, who is our perfect rest and peace; in whom we are accounted of, and received by, the Father, even as Christ himself. This is our high calling. Rest we here, and here only.

Oliver Cromwell
Your poor army, those poor contemptible men, came up hither.

Oliver Cromwell
If we do not depart from God, and disunite by that departure, and fall into disunion among ourselves, I am confident, we doing our duty and waiting upon the Lord, we shall find He will be as a wall of brass round about us till we have finished that work which he has for us to do.

Oliver Cromwell
No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.

Oliver Cromwell
I would rather have a plain russet-coated captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call 'a gentleman' and is nothing else.

Oliver Cromwell
Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.

Oliver Cromwell
The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is for aught I know, a crowning mercy.

Oliver Cromwell
Now I see there is a people risen that I cannot win with gifts or honours, offices or places; but all other sects and people I can.

Oliver Cromwell
When I went there, I did not think to have done this. But perceiving the spirit of God so strong upon me, I would not consult flesh and blood.

Oliver Cromwell
It has pleased God to bless our endeavours at Drogheda…I believe we put to the sword the whole number of the defendants.

Oliver Cromwell
Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy, to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition that he may abuse it.

Oliver Cromwell
God has brought us where we are, to consider the work we may do in the world, as well as at home.

Oliver Cromwell
I desire not to keep my place in this government an hour longer than I may preserve England in its just rights, and may protect the people of God in such a just liberty of their consciences...

Oliver Cromwell
This is our comfort, God is in heaven, and He doth what pleaseth Him; His, and only His counsel shall stand, whatsoever the designs of men, and the fury of the people be.

Oliver Cromwell
I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation — to serve in parliaments, — and (because I would not be over tedious) I did endeavour to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to God, and his people's interest, and of the commonwealth; having, when time was, a competent acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence thereof.

Oliver Cromwell
Truly England and the church of God hath had a great favour from the Lord, in this great victory given us.

Oliver Cromwell
Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities... are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretenses to break known rules by.

Oliver Cromwell
You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!

Oliver Cromwell
I would have my son mind and understand business, read little history, study the mathematics and cosmography; these are good, with subordination to the things of God.... These fit for public services for which man is born.

Oliver Cromwell
It is not my design to drink or to sleep, but my design is to make what haste I can to be gone.

Oliver Cromwell
I tell you we will cut off his head with the crown upon it.

Oliver Cromwell
I need pity. I know what I feel. Great place and business in the world is not worth looking after.

Oliver Cromwell
We study the glory of God, and the honour and liberty of parliament, for which we unanimously fight, without seeking our own interests... I profess I could never satisfy myself on the justness of this war, but from the authority of the parliament to maintain itself in its rights; and in this cause I hope to prove myself an honest man and single-hearted.

Oliver Cromwell
If the remonstrance had been rejected I would have sold all I had the next morning and never have seen England more, and I know there are many other modest men of the same resolution.
On the passing of the revolutionary Grand Remonstrance of November 1641 listing Parliament's grievances against King Charles I

Oliver Cromwell
This is a righteous judgement of God upon these barbarous wretches, who have imbrued their hands in so much innocent blood.

Oliver Cromwell