16th century

Explore 285 quotes from the 16th century

The diversity of human events offers us infinite examples in all sorts of forms.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

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Topic

Learning from the past

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

Of Presumption Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "De La Praesumption [Of Presumption]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "On Presumption." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

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Topic

Burdens of leadership Leadership

Speaker

King Henry the Fourth

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry IV, Part 2

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 2. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1597, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Second Part of Henry the Fourth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

Anyone who campaigns for public office becomes disqualified for holding any office at all.

Thomas More

Utopia

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Topic

Political campaigns Political theory Politics

Author

Thomas More

Source

Utopia

Genre

Satire Political literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Latin

Time

1516 1510s 16th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

More, Thomas. Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia. Leuven: Self-published, 1516, bk. 2.

Current Citation

More, Thomas. Utopia, edited and translated by Paul Turner. Penguin Classics, 2003, bk. 2.

The value of life lies not in the length of days but in the use you make of them.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

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Topic

Living life to the fullest Life

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "Que Philosopher C'Est Apprendre a Mourir [That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "To Philosophize is to Learn How to Die." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

A man should keep for himself a little back shop, all his own, quite unadulterated, in which he establishes his true freedom and chief place of seclusion and solitude.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

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Topic

Man caves Solitude

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

Of Solitude Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "De La Solitude [Of Solitude]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "Of Solitude." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

A man should not marry after thirty years of age; should not enter the government service after the age of forty; should not have any more children after the age of fifty; and should not travel after the age of sixty. This is because the proper time for those things has passed.

Shi Nai'An

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Topic

Stages of life Opportune time Timing

Author

Shi Nai'An

Source

Water Margin

Language

Chinese

Time

1524 1520s 16th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Shi Nai'an. Water Margin. c. 1524, vol. 1, introduction.

Current Citation

Shi Naian. The Water Margin, translated by J. H. Jackson. Tuttle Publishing, 2010, forward.

There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

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Topic

Deception Virtue and vice Vice Virtue

Speaker

Bassanio

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merchant of Venice

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1598 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. c. 1598, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.

Beware the ides of March.

William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

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Topic

March Spring

Speaker

Soothsayer

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Julius Caesar

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play) Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Warning

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, 1599, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Julius Caesar." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

They are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing.

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

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Topic

Mo money mo problems Downsides of wealth Wealth Excess

Speaker

Nerissa

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merchant of Venice

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1598 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. c. 1598, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

I wish my deadly foe, no worse
Than want of friends, and empty purse.

Nicholas Breton

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Topic

Enemies Loneliness Poverty

Author

Nicholas Breton

Source

A Farewell to Town

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1577 1570s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Breton, Nicholas. A Farewell to Town. c. 1577.

Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

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Topic

Antisemitism The Jewish people

Speaker

Shylock

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Merchant of Venice

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1598 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. c. 1598, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!

William Shakespeare

Henry V

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Topic

Battle

Speaker

King Henry V

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry V

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry V. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Curtain, Shoreditch, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Henry the Fifth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

Et tu, Brutè?

William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

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Topic

Betrayal

Speaker

Julius Caesar

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Julius Caesar

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play) Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Question

Language

Latin

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, 1599, Globe Theatre, London, England, UK, act 3, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Julius Caesar." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 1.

To learning & law, there's no greater foe than they that nothing know.

Robert Greene

More information about this quote

Topic

Idiocracy Ignorance

Author

Robert Greene

Source

Greene's Groatsworth of Wit

Language

English

Time

1592 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Greene, Robert. Greenes, Groats-worth of Witte, bought with a million of Repentance. London: William Wright, 1592.

Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance?

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

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Topic

Impotence Sex Effects of old age

Speaker

Poins

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry IV, Part 2

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 2. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1597, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Second Part of Henry the Fourth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 4.

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 2

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Topic

Lawyers

Speaker

Dick the Butcher

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry VI, Part 2

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1594 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry the Sixth, Part 2. London: Thomas Millington, 1594, act 4, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Second Part of Henry the Sixth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 2.

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York.

William Shakespeare

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Speaker

Richard

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

History (play)

Statement Type

Opening lines Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Richard III. London: Andrew Wise, 1597, act 1, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Richard the Third." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 1.

Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn.

William Shakespeare

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Topic

Love hurts Nature of love Love

Speaker

Romeo Montague

Author

William Shakespeare

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1597 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: John Danter, 1597, act 1, sc. 4.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 4.

She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed;
She is a woman, therefore to be won.

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 1

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Topic

Pursuing women Men and women Women

Speaker

Suffolk

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Henry VI, Part 1

Medium

Play

Genre

History (play)

Language

English

Time

1592 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Henry VI, Part 1. Lord Strange's Men, 1592, Rose Theatre, London, England, UK, act 5, sc. 3.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The First Part of Henry the Sixth." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 3.

The worth and value of a man is in his heart and his will; there lies his real honour. Valour is the strength, not of legs and arms, but of heart and soul.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

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Topic

Inner strength Determination

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

Of Cannibals Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "Des Cannibales [Of Cannibals]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "On the Cannibals." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.