John Lyly Quotes

United Kingdom, Writer
1553 – November, 27, 1606.

John Lyly (Lilly or Lylie; /ˈlɪli/; c. 1553 or 1554 – November 1606) was an English writer, poet, dramatist, and courtier, best known during his lifetime for his books Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578) and Euphues and His England (1580), and perhaps best remembered now for his plays. Lyly's mannered literary style, originating in his first books, is known as euphuism.

Also known as Poet, Dramatist

I cast before the Moone.

John Lyly
Is it not true which Seneca reporteth, that as too much bending breaketh the bowe, so too much remission spoyleth the minde?

John Lyly
- True

Maydens, be they never so foolyshe, yet beeing fayre they are commonly fortunate.

John Lyly
I am glad that my Adonis hath a sweete tooth in his head.

John Lyly
For experience teacheth me that straight trees have crooked roots.

John Lyly
- Experience
Though the Camomill, the more it is trodden and pressed downe the more it spreadeth.

John Lyly
Lette me stande to the maine chance.

John Lyly
A clere conscience is a sure carde.

John Lyly

As lyke as one pease is to another.

John Lyly
There can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.

John Lyly
- Great
- Fire
Be valyaunt, but not too venturous. Let thy attyre bee comely, but not costly.

John Lyly
- Bee
Goe to bed with the Lambe, and rise with the Larke.

John Lyly
That honourable estate of Matrimony, which was sanctified in Paradise, allowed of the Patriarches, hallowed of the olde Prophets, and commended of al persons.

John Lyly
- Paradise
A comely olde man as busie as a bee.

John Lyly
- Bee

The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.

John Lyly
How at heaven's gates she claps her wings,The morne not waking til she sings.

John Lyly
- She
- Heaven
It is a world to see.

John Lyly
- World
Did not Jupiter transforme himselfe into the shape of Amphitrio to embrace Alcmæna; into the form of a swan to enjoy Leda; into a Bull to beguile Io; into a showre of gold to win Danae?

John Lyly
- Gold
Your eyes are so sharpe that you cannot onely looke through a Milstone, but cleane through the minde.

John Lyly
- Eyes
The soft droppes of rain perce the hard marble; many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks.

John Lyly
- Rain

A Rose is sweeter in the budde than full blowne.

John Lyly
- Rose
Rather fast then surfette, rather starue then striue to exceede.

John Lyly
He reckoneth without his Hostesse. Love knoweth no lawes.

John Lyly
Where the streame runneth smoothest, the water is deepest.

John Lyly
- Water