Thomas Nashe Quotes

He that is a traveller must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat all what is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing; and if this be not the highest step of thraldom, there is no liberty or freedom.

Beauty is but a flower Which wrinkles will devour; Brightness falls from the air; Queens have died young and fair; Dust hath close’d Helen’s eye. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us!

From winter, plague and pestilence, good lord, deliver us!

Fair summer droops, droop men and beasts therefore: So fair a summer look for never more. All good things vanish, less than in a day, Peace, plenty, pleasure, suddenly decay. Go not yet away, bright soul of the sad year; The earth is hell when thou leav’st to appear.

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king, Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring, Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing: Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

Immortal Spenser, no frailty hath thy fame but the imputation of this idiot’s friendship!

I will confer with thee somewhat gravely, although thou beest a goosecap and hast no judgement.

Poetry is the honey of all flowers, the quintessence of all sciences, the marrow of wit, and the very phrase of angels.

‘New herrings, new!’ we must cry, every time we make ourselves public, or else we shall be christened with a hundred new titles of idiotism.