Thomas Middleton Quotes

Thomas Middleton shares grand, reflective musings on time, reality and value.

51 quotes

1. Hold their noses to the grindstone.

2. I smell a rat.

3. 'Tis slight, not strength, that gives the greatest lift.

4. From thousands of our undone widows One may derive some wit.

5. Wilt make haste to give up thy verdict because thou wilt not lose thy dinner.

6. From the crown of our head to the sole of our foot.

7. That disease Of which all old men sicken,-avarice.

8. Beat all your feathers as flat down as pancakes.

9. How many honest words have suffered corruption since Chaucer's days!

10. By many a happy accident.

11. As old Chaucer was wont to say, that broad famous English poet.

12. 'T is a stinger.

13. There is no hate lost between us.

14. Let the air strike our tune, Whilst we show reverence to yond peeping moon. 15

15. Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray, Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may. 16

16. All is not gold that glisteneth.

17. As the case stands.

18. On his last legs.

19. How a good meaning May be corrupted by a misconstruction.

20. Justice may wink a while, but see at last.

21. Turn over a new leaf.

22. My nearest And dearest enemy.

23. This was a good week's labour.

24. The world's a stage on which all parts are played.

25. Ground not upon dreams; you know they are ever contrary.

26. Spick and span new.

27. A flat case as plain as a pack-staff.

28. Have you summoned your wits from wool-gathering?

29. As true as I live.

30. A little too wise, they say, do ne'er live long.

31. The better day, the better deed.

32. He who loves the law dies either mad or poor.

33. The worst comes to the worst.

34. Though I be poor, I'm honest.

35. When affection only speaks, truth is not always there.

36. Anything for a quiet life.

37. “I much applaud thy judgement; thou art well-read in a fellow. And 'tis the deepest art to study man.”

38. “Money! Ho, ho! 'T'as been my want so long, 'tis now my scoff. I've e'en forgot what colour silver's of.”

39. “Castiza: "False! I defy you both! I have endured you with an ear of fire; Your tongues have struck hot irons on my face! Mother, come from that poisonous woman there." Gratiana: "Where?" Castiza: "Do you not see her? She's too inward then.”

40. “Has not heaven an ear? Is all the lightning wasted?”

41. “Good, happy, swift; there's gunpowder i'th' court, Wildfire at midnight in this heedless fury.”

42. “Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father. When deep healths went round, And ladies' cheeks were painted red with wine, Their tongues as short and nimble as their heels, Uttering words sweet and thick, and when they rose Were marrily disposed to fall again: Oh, damnation met The sin of feasts, drunken adultery! I feel it swell me; my revenge is just: I was begot in impudent wine and lust (...) As for my brother, the duke's only son, Whose birth is more beholding to report Than mine, and yet perhaps as falsely sown, I'll loose my days upon him, hate all I.”

43. “Lussurioso: "Welcome, be not far off, we must be better acquainted. Push, be bold with us, thy hand!" Vindice: "With all my heart, i'faith. How dost, sweet musk-cat? When shall we lie together?" Lussurioso: (aside) "Wondrous knave! Gather him into boldness? 'Sfoot, the slave's Already as familiar as an ague, And shakes me at his pleasure! -- Friend, I can Forget myself in private, but elsewhere, I pray do you remember be." Vindice: "Oh, very well, sir. I conster myself saucy." Lussurioso: "What hast been? What profession?" Vindice: "A bone-setter." Lussurioso: "A bone-setter!" Vindice: "A bawd, my lord, one that sets bones together." Lussurioso: (aside) "Notable bluntness!”

44. “As fast as they peep up let's cut 'em down.”

45. “How sweetly she looks! O, but there's a wrinkle in her brow as deep as philosophy. - Anacreon, drink to my mistress' health, I'll pledge it. Stay, stay, there's a spider in the cup! No, 'tis but a grape-stone; swallow it, fear nothing, poet. So, so; lift higher.”

46. “Let me feel how thy pulses beat.”

47. “Ha! What news here? Is the day out a' th' socket That it is noon at midnight? The court up?”

48. “The slowest kiss makes too much haste.”

49. “FRANCISCUS: How sweetly she looks! Oh, but there's a wrinkle in her brow as deep as philosophy.”

50. “Oh,Wert not gold and women, there would be no damnation”

51. “Her fingers touched me! She smells all amber.”