Quotes by Elizabeth I

"If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all."

"I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman."

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

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

"All my possessions for a moment of time."

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

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

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

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

"I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown."

"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."

"Where minds differ and opinions swerve there is scant a friend in that company."

"God has given such brave soldiers to this Crown that, if they do not frighten our neighbours, at least they prevent us from being frightened by them."

"Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states."

"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."

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

"Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst."

"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."

"I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything."

"God forgive you, but I never can."

"I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."

"The past cannot be cured."

"Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested."

"A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing."

"Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind."

"I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married."

"Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts."

"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."

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