Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Quarrel
Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in,
Bear ’t that the opposed may beware of thee.
Shakespeare.—Hamlet, Act I. Scene 3. (Polonius to Laertes.)
How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
Shakespeare.—King Henry VI., Part II. Act II. Scene 1. (The King to his Lords.)
What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!
Thrice is he arm’d that hath his quarrel just;
And he but naked, though lock’d up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.
Shakespeare.—King Henry VI., Part II. Act III. Scene 2. (The King after Duke Humphrey’s death.)
Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end,
Not wedlock-treachery endangering life.
Milton.—Samson Agonistes.
Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat.
Shakespeare.—Romeo and Juliet, Act III. Scene 1. (Mercutio to Benvolio.)
Those who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.
Gay.—Fable 34.
Put we our quarrel to the will of Heaven,
Who, when he sees the hours ripe on earth,
Will rain hot vengeance on offenders’ heads.
Shakespeare.—Richard II., Act I. Scene 2. (Gaunt to the Duchess of Gloster.)
The quarrel is a very pretty quarrel as it stands; we should only spoil it by trying to explain it.
Sheridan.—The Rivals, Act IV. Scene 3.