Anne Bradstreet citations

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

“Sweet words are like honey, a little may refresh, but too much gluts the stomach.”

“Wisdom with an inheritance is good, but wisdom without an inheritance is better than an inheritance without wisdom.”

“Leave not thy nest, thy dam and sire,
Fly back and sing amidst this choir.”

“If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.”

“If for thy Father askt, say, thou hadst none;
And for thy Mother, she alas is poor,
Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door.”

“Youth is the time of getting, middle age of improving, and old age of spending.”

“A Spring returns, and they more youthful made;
But Man grows old, lies down, remains where once he's laid.”

“Fire hath its force abated by water, not by wind; and anger must be allayed by cold words, and not by blustering threats.”

“The principal might yield a greater sum,
Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb;”

“Such cold mean flowers the spring puts forth betime,
Before the sun hath thoroughly heat the clime.”

“"Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on
Nothing but Meditation?”

“What to my Saviour shall I give
Who freely hath done this for me?
I'll serve him here whilst I shall live
And Loue him to Eternity”