Elizabeth I Quotes

I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people.

A good face is the best letter of recommendation.

Let the good service of well-deservers be never rewarded with loss. Let their thanks be such as may encourage more strivers for the like.

Be always faithful to me, as I always desire to keep you in peace; and if there have been wiser kings, none has ever loved you more than I have.

I am more afraid of making a fault in my Latin than of the Kings of Spain, France, Scotland, the whole House of Guise, and all of their confederates.

I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.

A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food.

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

He who placed me in this seat will keep me here.

Ye may have a greater prince, but ye shall never have a more loving prince.

[I]n the end this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a Queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin.

There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God.

Answer on being asked her opinion of Christ's presence in the Sacrament. 'Twas God the word that spake it, He took the Bread and brake it; And what the word did make it That I believe, and take it.

If I follow the inclination of my nature, it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married.

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.

It is hard to find beauty in the art of self expression.

I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England.

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.

If we still advise we shall never do.

Much suspected by me, Nothing proved can be

Although my royal rank causes me to doubt whether my kingdom is not more sought after than myself, yet I understand that you havefound other graces in me.

Of myself I must say this, I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait fast-holding prince, nor yet a master; my heart was never set on worldly goods, but only for my subjects' good.

I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.

A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past.

[On Thomas Seymour's death:] This day died a man of much wit and very little judgment.

It is good to jest, but not to make a trade of jesting.

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head.

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

Where might is mixed with wit, there is too good an accord in a government.

Who seeketh two strings to one bow, they may shoot strong, but never straight.

Be of good cheer, for you will never want, for the bullet was meant for me, though it hit you.

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

I pluck up the good lissome herbs of sentences by pruning, eat them by reading, digest them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high seat of memory.

There is nothing about which I am more anxious than my country, and for its sake I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be possible.

Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.

Mr. Doctor, that loose gown becomes you so well I wonder your notions should be so narrow.

I regret the unhappiness of princes who are slaves to forms and fettered by caution.

O Fortune, how thy restless, wavering state has fraught with cares my troubled wit!

My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England's hate; neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me.

God forgive you, but I never can.

He that will forget God, will also forget his benefactors.

For, what is a family without a steward, a ship without a pilot, a flock without a shepherd, a body without a head, the same, I think, is a kingdom without the health and safety of a good monarch.

No foteball player be used or suffered within the City of London and the liberties thereof upon pain of imprisonment.

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.

Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: That I have reigned with your loves.

Young heads take example of the ancient

I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over!

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

Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus.

Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word.