JOHN LYLY QUOTES

English writer (1553-1606)

It is far more seemly to have thy study full of books, than thy purse full of money.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: books


If thou love thine equal, it is no conquest; if thy superior, thou shalt be envied; if thine inferior, laughed at. If one that is beautiful, her colour will change before thou get thy desire; if one that is wise, she will overreach thee so far that thou shalt never touch her; if virtuous, she will eschew such fond affection; if deformed, she is not worthy of any affection; if she be rich, she needeth thee not; if poor, thou needest not her. If old, why shouldst thou love her; if young, why should she love thee?

JOHN LYLY

Euphues and His England


Love knoweth no laws.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: love


Children and fools speak true.

JOHN LYLY

Endymion

Tags: truth


A merry companion is as good as a wagon,
For you shall be sure to ride though ye go a foot.

JOHN LYLY

The Woman in the Moon


A bargain is a bargain.

JOHN LYLY

Arden of Feversham


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

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: reason


All fish are not caught with flies.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: fishing


Many strokes overthrow the tallest oak.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit


It is the eye of the master that fatteth the horse, and the love of the woman that maketh the man.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit


There can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues and his Euphoebus


The wound that bleedeth inward is most dangerous.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit


Time draweth wrinkles in a fair face,
but addeth fresh colours to a fast friend,
which neither heat, nor cold, nor misery,
nor place, nor destiny, can alter or diminish.

JOHN LYLY

Endymion, the Man in the Moon

Tags: time


A penny for your thought.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues

Tags: thought


Lips are no part of the head, only made for a double-leaf door for the mouth.

JOHN LYLY

Midas

Tags: lips


Marriages are made in heaven though consummated on Earth.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues and his England

Tags: marriage


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

JOHN LYLY

Gallathea and Midas


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

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: hate


All is fair in love and war.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit

Tags: war


To love and to live well is wished of many, but incident to few.

JOHN LYLY

Euphues and His England