John Fletcher Quotes

English Jacobean playwright (1579–1625)

Add quote

John Fletcher (baptized 29 December 1579 - died in August 1625) was a Jacobean playwright. After William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, he was one of the most prolific and influential of the Jacobean dramatists. In succession to Shakespeare, he became the chief dramatist for the leading company of London, the King's Men.

Bio from: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Showing quotes in randomized order to avoid selection bias. Click Popular for most popular quotes.

Corruption is a tree, whose branches are
Of an immeasurable length: they spread
Ev'rywhere; and the dew that drops from thence
Hath infected some chairs and stools of authority.

Three merry boys, and three merry boys,
And three merry boys are we.
As ever did sing in a hempen string
Under the gallows tree.

Hide, oh, hide those hills of snow Which thy frozen bosom bears,
On whose tops the pinks that grow Are of those that April wears!
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy chains by thee.

Drink today, and drown all sorrow;
You shall perhaps not do't tomorrow.

Let no man fear to die: We love to sleep all,
And death is but the sounder sleep.

We must all die! All leave ourselves, it matters not where, when, Nor how, so we die well; and can that man that does so Need lamentation for him?

What mare's nest hast thou found?

There is no jesting with edge tools.

Death hath so many doors to let out life.

As high as Heaven, as deep as Hell.

Hence, all you vain delights,
As short as are the nights
Wherein you spend your folly!
There's naught in this life sweet
But only melancholy;
O sweetest melancholy!

Three merry boys, and three merry boys, And three merry boys are we,
As ever did sing in a hempen string Under the gallow-tree.

Great things thro' greatest hazards are achiev'd,
And then they shine.

He 'as had a stinger.

Lie lightly on my ashes, gentle earthe.