James Wood, comp. Dictionary of Quotations. 1899.
Jeremy Taylor
Covetousness swells the principal to no purpose, and lessens the use to all purposes.
Curiosity is the direct incontinency of the spirit. Knock, therefore, at the door before you enter on your neighbour’s privacy; and remember that there is no difference between entering into his house and looking into it.
Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them, and the evils bear patiently and sweetly. For this day only is ours; we are dead to yesterday and we are not born to to-morrow.
Every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice, and the earth he treads on the altar.
Every man rejoices twice when he has a partner of his joy.
Every petition to God is a precept to man.
Friendship is the greatest bond in the world.
God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.
Great knowledge, if it be without vanity, is the most severe bridle of the tongue.
He that does a base thing in zeal for his friend burns the golden thread that ties their hearts together.
Ignorance is the mother of devotion.
It is good that we sometimes be contradicted, and that we always bear it well; for perfect peace cannot be had in this world.
Love is the greatest thing that God can give us, and it is the greatest we can give God.
Many are idly busy. Domitian was busy, but then it was catching flies.
Marriage is the mother of the world, and preserves kingdoms, and fills cities and churches, and heaven itself.
No man is poor who does not think himself so. But if in a full fortune with impatience he desires more, he proclaims his wants and his beggarly condition.
No single action creates, however it may exhibit, a man’s character.
Observe thyself as thy greatest enemy would do; so shalt thou be thy greatest friend.
Prayers are but the body of the bird; desires are its angel’s wings.
Religion cannot change, though we do.
Secrecy is the chastity of friendship.
Solitude is a good school, but the world is the best theatre; the institution is best there, but the practice here; the wilderness hath the advantage of discipline, and society opportunities of perfection.
The sublimity of wisdom is to do those things living which are to be desired when dying.
Unjust acquisition is like a barbed arrow, which must be drawn backward with horrible anguish, or else will be your destruction.
When you lie down with a short prayer, commit yourself into the hands of your faithful Creator; and when you have done, trust Him with yourself as you must do when you are dying.