Sir Walter Raleigh Quotes on Man (6 Quotes)

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 hath 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.

It is the nature of men having escaped one extreme, which by force they were constrained long to endure, to run headlong into the other extreme, forgetting that virtue doth always consist in the mean.

It is no wisdom ever to commend or discommend the actions of men by their success for oftentimes some enterprises attempted by good counsel end unfortunately, and others unadvisedly taken in hand have happy success.

All, or the greatest part of men that have aspired to riches or power, have attained thereunto either by force or fraud, and what they have by craft or cruelty gained, to cover the foulness of their fact, they call purchase, as a name more honest. Howsoever, he that for want of will or wit useth not those means, must rest in servitude and poverty.

No man is esteemed for colorful garments except by fools and women.

Historians desiring to write the actions of men, ought to set down the simple truth, and not say anything for love or hatred also to choose such an opportunity for writing as it may be lawful to think what they will, and write what they think, which is a rare happiness of the time.