Walter Raleigh

English statesman, soldier and writer (1552–1618)

Namesake of Raleigh

explorer, poet, writer, knight, politician, seafarer

Quotations with a citation

O eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared, thou hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world and despised; thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelty, and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, Hic jacet [Here lies]!

For whosoever commands the sea commands the trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.

Every fool knoweth that hatreds are the cinders of affection.

No man is wise or safe, but he that is honest.

If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee and be thy Love.But fading flowers in every field, To winter floods their treasures yield; A honey'd tongue, a heart of gall, Is Fancy's spring, but Sorrow's fall.

Go, Soul, the body’s guest, Upon a thankless arrant: Fear not to touch the best; The truth shall be thy warrant: Go, since I needs must die, And give the world the lie.Say to the court, it glows. And shines like rotten wood; Say to the church, it shows What’s good, and doth no good: If church and court reply, Then give them both the lie.

So when thou hast, as I Commanded thee, done blabbing — Although to give the lie Deserves no less than stabbing — Stab at thee he that will, No stab the soul can kill.

[History] hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.

Whosoever, in writing a modern history, shall follow truth too near the heels, it may happily strike out his teeth.

Our passions are most like to floods and streams; The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb.

A prince of mean force ought not in any wise to adventure his estate upon one day's fight: for if he be victorious he gaineth nothing but glory; but if he lose, he is utterly ruined.

Cowards fear to die; but courage stout, Rather than live in snuff, will be put out.

Silence in love bewrays more woe Than words, though ne’er so witty: A beggar that is dumb, you know, May challenge double pity.

Fain would I, but I dare not; I dare, and yet I may not; I may, although I care not, for pleasure when I play not.

Methought I saw the grave where Laura lay.

In the libraries

Open Library England and the War · 2006 View library record ↗ Open Library Poems · 1929 View library record ↗ Open Library The Discovery of Guiana · 2003 View library record ↗ Open Library The discovery of the large, rich, and beautiful empire of Guiana · 1848 View library record ↗ Open Library The history of the world · 1614 View library record ↗ Open Library The prerogative of parliaments in England · 1628 View library record ↗

Read Walter Raleigh

The history of the world 1614 Find a copy Poems 1929 Find a copy The discovery of the large, rich, and beautiful empire of Guiana 1848 Find a copy England and the War 2006 Find a copy The prerogative of parliaments in England 1628 Find a copy The Discovery of Guiana 2003 Find a copy