James Shirley Quotes

• Only the actions of the just, Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.

  James Shirley

  Inspirational, Sweet, Dust

  'The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses' (1659) act 1, sc. 3

  45 Copy quote

• The honour is overpaid,When he that did the act is commentator.

  James Shirley

  Honour, Commentators

  James Shirley, Alexander Dyce (1833). “Honoria and Mammon. Chabot, Admiral of France. The acardia. The triumph of peace. A contention for honour and riches. The triumph of beauty. Cupid and death. The contention of Ajax and Ulysses, &c. Poems”, p.380

  9 Copy quote

• There is no armour against fate.

  James Shirley

  Fate, Armour

  'The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses' (1659) act 1, sc. 3

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• Death lays his icy hand on kings.

  James Shirley

  Death, Kings, Hands

  'The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses' (1659) act 1, sc. 3

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• When our souls shall leave this dwelling, the glory of one fair and virtuous action is above all the 'scutcheons on our tomb, or silken banners over us.

  James Shirley

  Dwelling, Soul, Action

  James Shirley (1833). “The Dramatic Works and Poems of James Shirley, Now First Collected: The grateful servant. The traitor. Love's cruelty. Love in a maze. The bird in a cage. Hyde Park”, p.174

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• The glories of our blood and state, Are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against fate, Death lays his icy hand on kings. Scepter and crown must tumble down, And, in the dust, be equal made With the poor crooked scythe and spade.

  James Shirley

  Kings, Fate, Dust

  'The Contention of Ajax and Ulysses' (1659) act 1, sc. 3

  63 Copy quote

• Death calls ye to the crowd of common men.

  James Shirley

  Men, Crowds, Common

  James Shirley, William Gifford, Alexander Dyce (1833). “Honoria and Mammon. Chabot, admiral of France. The Arcadia. The triumph of peace. A contention for honour and riches. The triumph of beauty. Cupid and death. The contention of Ajax and Ulysses for armour of Achilles. Poems”, p.355

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• There is no armor against fate.

  James Shirley

  Fate, Armor

  James Shirley, “From Ajax Dirge”

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• How little room Do we take up in death, that, living, know No bounds!

  James Shirley

  Death, Littles, Rooms

  'The Wedding' (1626) act 4, sc. 4

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• Hark, how chimes the passing bell! There's no music to a knell; All the other sounds we hear, Flatter, and but cheat our ear. This doth put us still in mind That our flesh must be resigned, And, a general silence made, The world be muffled in a shade.

  James Shirley

  Silence, Mind, Shade

  James Shirley, William Gifford, Alexander Dyce (1833). “The Dramatic Works and Poems: Now First Colledted : in 6 Volumes. Honoria and mammon [u.a.]”, p.452

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• Knaves will thrive when honest plainness knows not how to live.

  James Shirley

  Knavery, Knaves, Honest

  James Shirley (1793). “The Maid's Revenge. A Tragedy [in Five Acts, in Prose and Verse].”, p.38

  7 Copy quote

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