Thomas Tusser Quotes

Thomas Tusser offers witty, plain advice on friendship, seasons and holiday cheer that feels like a friendly, rustic guide.

36 quotes

1. Yet true it is, as cow chews cud And trees at spring do yield forth bud, Except wind stands as never it stood, It is an ill wind turns none to good.

2. Dry sun, dry wind; Safe bind, safe find. 5

3. HAST thou a Friend, as heart may wish at will? Then use him so, to have his friendship still. Would'st have a Friend, would'st know what friend is best? Have God thy friend who passeth all the rest.

4. To death we must stoop, be we high, be we low, But how and how suddenly few be that know -, What carry we then but a sheet to the grave, To cover this carcass, of all that we have?'

5. God sendeth and giveth both mouth and the meat.

6. At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year.

7. Such mistress, such Nan, Such master, such man.

8. Who goeth a borrowing Goeth a sorrowing.

9. 'T is merry in hall Where beards wag all.

10. Naught venture naught have.

11. A fool and his money are soon parted.

12. [He] spread his bread with all sorts of butter, yet none would stick thereon.

13. In March and in April from morning till night In sowing and seeding good housewives delight.

14. Sweet April showers do spring May flowers.

15. Ill husbandry lieth In prison for debt: Good husbandry spieth Where profit get.

16. Make hunger thy sauce, as a medicine for health.

17. Dry August and warm, Doth harvest no harm.

18. Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go.

19. February, fill the dyke with what thou dost like.

20. In harvest time, harvest folk, servants and all Should make, all together, good cheer in the hall Once ended the harvest, let none be beguiled Please such as did help thee, man, woman and child.

21. Tide flowing is feared, for many a thing, Great danger to such as be sick, it doth bring; Sea ebb, by long ebbing, some respite doth give, And sendeth good comfort, to such as shall live.

22. Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man.

23. For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For the next trim beauty beginneth to swerve. For the next matrons or drudges they serve. For the next doth crave a staff for a stay. For the next a bier to fetch them away.

24. Time tries the troth in everything.

25. Who quick be to borrow and slow be to pay, their credit is naught, go they ever so gay.

26. Ill husbandry braggeth To go with the best: Good husbandry baggeth Up gold in his chest.

27. A fool and his money are soon parted. - Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry.

28. The stone that is rolling can gather no moss;For master and servant oft changing is loss.

29. What a greater crime. Than loss of time.

30. Provide of thine own, to have all things at hand; Less work and the workman, unoccupied, stand. Make dry over-head both hovel and shack. Wash sheep (for the better) where water doth run; Let him go cleanly, and dry in the sun. Thy houses and and barns would be looked upon; And all things a[...]ed, ere harvest come on. At midsummer, down with the brambles and brakes; And after, abroad, with thy forks and thy rakes; Set movers a mowing, where meadow is grown; The longer now standing, the worse to be mown.

31. Seek home for rest, for home is best.

32. Who goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.

33. If a garden require it, now trench it ye may, one trench not a yard, from another go lay; Which being well filled with muck by and by, to cover with mould, for a season to lie.

34. As order is heavenly, where quiet is had, so error is hell, or a mischief as bad.

35. God sendeth and giveth both mouth and meat.

36. Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.