John Heywood Quotes

True (quoth Ales) thinges doone can not be vndoone, Be they done in due tyme, to late, or to soone, But better late than neuer to repent this, To late (quoth my aunt) this repentance showd is, Whan the stéede is stolne shut the stable durre.

Well aunt (quoth Ales) all is well that endes well. Ye Ales, of a good begynnyng comth a good end.

To hold with the hare and run with the hound.

She speaketh as she would créepe into your bosome. And when the meale mouth hath woon the bottome of your stomake, than will the pickthanke it tell To your most enmies, you to bye and fell. To tell tales out of schoole, that is hir great lust. Looke what she knowth, blab it wist, out it must.

Who waite for dead men shall goe long barefoote.

Two heddis are better then one.

... Better is to boow then breake. It hurteth not the tounge to geue fayre wurdis. The rough net is not the best catcher of Burdis. Sense ye can nought wyn, if ye can not please, Best is to suffre: For of sufferance comth ease.

The nere to the churche, the ferther from God.

When all candels be out, all cats be grey, All thingis are then of one colour, as who sey. And this prouerbe faith, for quenching hot desyre, Foul water as soone as fayre, will quenche hot fyre.

And also I shall to reueng former hurtis, Hold their noses to grinstone, and syt on theyr skurtis.

Who hopeth in Gods helpe, his helpe can not starte: Nothing is impossible to a willyng hart, And will maie wyn my herte, herein to consent, To take all thinges as it cometh, and be content.

That muche is my bowe bent to shoote at these marks, And kyll feare, when the sky falth we shall haue larks.

A hard beginnyng makth a good endyng.

Happy man, happy dole.

So many heads so many wits.