17th century

Explore 573 quotes from the 17th century

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage.
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free;
Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.

Richard Lovelace

To Althea, From Prison

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Topic

Nature of freedom Freedom

Author

Richard Lovelace

Source

To Althea, From Prison Lucasta

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1649 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lovelace, Richard. "To Althea, from Prison." Lucasta. London: William Hazlitt, 1649, I. 25.

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked any thing.

George Herbert

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Topic

Power of love Love

Author

George Herbert

Source

Love (III) The Temple, Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1633 1630s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Herbert, George. "Love (III)." The Temple, Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, 1633, I. 1.

Current Citation

Herbert, George. "Love (3)." The Temple. Penguin Classics, 2018, I. 1.

I could never divide my selfe from any man upon the difference of an opinion, or be angry with his judgement for not agreeing with mee in that, from which perhaps within a few dayes I should dissent my selfe.

Sir Thomas Browne

Religio Medici

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Topic

Tolerance Diversity of opinion Open-mindedness

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 1, sect. 6.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 1, sect. 6.

What mighty ills have not been done by woman!
Who was 't betrayed the Capitol? -A woman!
Who lost Mark Antony the world? -A woman!
Who was the cause of a long ten years' war,
And laid at last old Troy in ashes? -Woman!
Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman!

Thomas Otway

The Orphan

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Topic

Misogyny Women

Speaker

Castalio

Author

Thomas Otway

Source

The Orphan

Genre

Tragedy (play) Tragedy

Language

English

Time

1680 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Otway, Thomas. The Orphan. Performed by Elizabeth Barry and Thomas Betterton and Thomas Gillow and John Wiltshire and Henry Norris and William Smith and Thomas Percival and Margaret Osborne and Joseph Williams. 1680, Dorset Garden Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Topic

Looks are deceiving Wolf in sheep's clothing Appearance vs. reality

Speaker

Duke Vincentio

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

The withered primrose by the mourning river,
The faded summer’s sun from weeping fountains,
The light-blown bubble vanished for ever,
The molten snow upon the naked mountains,
Are emblems that the treasures we up-lay
Soon wither, vanish, fade, and melt away.

Edmund Bolton

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Topic

Accumulation of wealth Impermanence The ephemeral The only constant is change

Author

Edmund Bolton

Source

A Palinode

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1600 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bolton, Edmund. A Palinode. c. 1600.

The Lord showed me, so that I did see clearly, that he did not dwell in these temples which men had commanded and set up, but in people's hearts... His people were his temple, and he dwelt in them.

George Fox

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Topic

God and man

Author

George Fox

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1646 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Fox, George. Journal entry. c. 1646.

If all be true that I think,
There are five reasons we should drink;
Good wine-a friend-or being dry-
Or lest we should be by and by-
Or any other reason why.

Henry Aldrich

More information about this quote

Topic

Reasons to drink Alcohol

Author

Henry Aldrich

Source

Reasons for Drinking

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

1689 1680s 17th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Aldrich, Henry. Reasons for Drinking. c. 1689.

Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?

William Shakespeare

As You Like It

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Topic

Love at first sight Love

Speaker

Phebe

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

As You Like It

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 5.

Oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s
In deepest consequence.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

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Topic

Manipulation Betrayal

Speaker

Banquo

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 1, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 3.

Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime.

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 3

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Topic

Women's attractiveness Mothers and daughters

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Sonnet 3 Shakespeare's Sonnets

Medium

Sonnet Poem

Language

English

Time

1609 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Shake-speares Sonnets. London: Thomas Thorpe, 1609, sonnet 3, I. 9.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Sonnets." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, sonnet 3.

The primrose way to th' everlasting bonfire.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

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Topic

Attraction of sin Temptation

Speaker

Porter

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 3.

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,
The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,
Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

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Topic

Sleep

Speaker

Macbeth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Macbeth

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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Topic

Mystery of death Death The afterlife

Speaker

Hamlet

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Hamlet

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

I am sure care's an enemy to life.

William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

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Topic

Worry Stress

Speaker

Sir Toby Belch

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play) Romantic comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1602 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. 1602, Middle Temple Hall, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Twelfth Night." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 3.

Though thou speakest truth,
Methinks thou speak'st not well.

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

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Topic

Telling the truth Truth Eloquence

Speaker

Cominius

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Coriolanus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 1, sc. 6

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes...
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Sonnets

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Topic

Love

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Sonnet 29 Shakespeare's Sonnets

Medium

Sonnet Poem

Statement Type

Profession of love

Language

English

Time

1609 1600s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Shake-speares Sonnets. London: Thomas Thorpe, 1609, sonnet 29, I. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Sonnets." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, sonnet 29.

Now my love is thawed,
Which like a waxen image ’gainst a fire
Bears no impression of the thing it was.

William Shakespeare

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

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Topic

Fading love Love

Speaker

Proteus

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 4.

Ay, but to die, and go we know not where,
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot,
This sensible warm motion to become
A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Topic

The afterlife

Speaker

Claudio

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

The sense of death is most in apprehension,
And the poor beetle that we tread upon
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.

William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Topic

Fear of death Death Man and animals

Speaker

Isabella

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Measure for Measure

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Measure for Measure." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.