Quotes from Elizabeth (I)

The daughter of debate, that eke discord doth sow.

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

Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man!

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

Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: that I have reigned with your loves.

I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom.

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

Semper eadem [Ever the same].

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

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

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

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; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm.

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.

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

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.

I will make you shorter by the head.