1640s

Explore 43 quotes from the 1640s

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

Robert Herrick

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Topic

Living in the moment Youth Passage of time Time

Author

Robert Herrick

Source

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1648 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." Hesperides; or the Works both Human and Divine of Robert Herrick Esq. London: John Williams, 1648.

Current Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." The Cavalier Poets: An Anthology, edited by Thomas Crofts. Dover Publications, 1995.

I will devote myself sincerely and without reservation to the general demolition of my opinions.

René Descartes

Meditations on First Philosophy

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Topic

Questioning one's beliefs

Author

René Descartes

Source

Meditations on First Philosophy

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1641 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Descartes, René. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei existentia et animæ immortalitas demonstratur [Meditations on First Philosophy, in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated]. Paris, 1641, first meditation.

Current Citation

Descarte, René. "Meditations on First Philosophy." Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, translated by Donald A. Cress. Hackett Publishing, 1999, first meditation.

Yet I doe seriously, and upon good grounds, affirme it possible to make a flying Chariot. In which a man may sit, and give such a motion unto it, as shall convey him through the aire. And this perhaps might bee made large enough to carry divers men at the same time, together with foode for their viaticum, and commodities for traffique. It is not the bignesse of any thing in this kind, that can hinder its motion, if the motive faculty be answerable thereunto. We see a great ship swimmes as well as a small corke, and an Eagle flies in the aire as well as a little gnat... So that notwithstanding all these seeming impossibilities, 'tis likely enough, that there may be a meanes invented of journying to the Moone; And how happy shall they be, that are first successfull in this attempt?

John Wilkins

A Discourse Concerning a New World and Another Planet

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Topic

Airplanes

Author

John Wilkins

Source

A Discourse Concerning a New World and Another Planet

Genre

Scientific literature

Statement Type

Prophecies and predictions

Language

English

Time

1640 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Wilkins, John. A Discourse Concerning a New World and Another Planet. London: John Maynard, 1640, bk. 1, proposition 14.

I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary but slinks out of the race, where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Topic

Tests of character Virtue Character

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitca; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc'd Printing, to the Parlament of England. London, 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Truth…never comes into the world, but like a bastard, to the ignominy of him that brought her forth.

John Milton

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Topic

Resistance to change Nature of progress

Author

John Milton

Source

The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Milton, John, [published anonymously]. The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: Restor'd to the Good of Both Sexes, From the Bondage of Canon Law. London: T. P. and M. S., 1643.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce." John Milton: The Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are.

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Topic

Power of literature Books

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitca; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc'd Printing, to the Parlament of England. London, 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license.

John Milton

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates

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Topic

Licentiousness Libertinism Freedom

Author

John Milton

Source

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1649 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Milton, John. The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. London: Matthew Simons, 1649.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

I could not possibly exist with the nature I actually have, that is, one endowed with the idea of God, unless there really is a God; the very God, I mean, of whom I have an idea.

René Descartes

Meditations on First Philosophy

More information about this quote

Topic

God and man Existence of God God

Author

René Descartes

Source

Meditations on First Philosophy

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

1641 1640s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Descartes, René. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei existentia et animæ immortalitas demonstratur [Meditations on First Philosophy, in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated]. Paris, 1641, third meditation.

Current Citation

Descarte, René. "Meditations on First Philosophy." Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, translated by Donald A. Cress. Hackett Publishing, 1999, third meditation.

No man who knows aught, can be so stupid to deny that all men naturally were born free.

John Milton

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of man Freedom

Author

John Milton

Source

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1649 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Milton, John. The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. London: Matthew Simons, 1649.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Obstinacy in a bad cause, is but constancy in a good.

Sir Thomas Browne

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Topic

Steadfastness Obstinacy Relativism

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 1, sect. 25.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 1, sect. 25.

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew the Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Topic

Marketplace of ideas Truth and lies

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitica; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the liberty of unlicenc'd printing, to the Parlament of England. 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon.

Robert Herrick

More information about this quote

Topic

Flowers

Author

Robert Herrick

Source

To Daffodils Hesperides

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1648 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To Daffodils." Hesperides. London: John Williams, 1648.

There is no road or ready way to vertue.

Sir Thomas Browne

Religio Medici

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Topic

Formation of character

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 1, sec. 55.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 1, sect. 55.

He that lies with the dogs, riseth with fleas.

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum

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Topic

The company one keeps

Author

George Herbert

Source

Jacula Prudentum

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1640 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Herbert, George. Jacula Prudentum, or, Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. Microform. London: Humphrey Blunden, 1640.

Current Citation

Herbert, George. "Outlandish Proverbs." Herbert: The Complete English Works, edited by Ann Pasternak Slater. Everyman's Library, 1995, no. 339.

Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

John Milton

Areopagitica

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Topic

Diversity of opinion Curiosity

Author

John Milton

Source

Areopagitica

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1644 1640s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Milton, John. Areopagitca; a speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc'd Printing, to the Parlament of England. London, 1644.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "Areopagitica." John Milton: Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008.

A man may be in as just possession of Truth as of a City, and yet bee forced to surrender.

Sir Thomas Browne

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Topic

Truth Surrender Compromise

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 1, sect. 6.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 1, sect. 6.

Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.

Robert Herrick

More information about this quote

Topic

Marriage Lost youth Youth

Author

Robert Herrick

Source

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1648 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." Hesperides; or the Works both Human and Divine of Robert Herrick Esq. London: John Williams, 1648.

Current Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." The Cavalier Poets: An Anthology, edited by Thomas Crofts. Dover Publications, 1995.

There is surely a peece of Divinity in us, something that was before the Elements, and owes no homage unto the Sun.

Sir Thomas Browne

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Topic

Man and nature God and man Human nature

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 2, sect. 11.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 2, sect. 11.

But how shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to our selves?

Sir Thomas Browne

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Topic

Kindness Perfectionism Self-criticism

Author

Sir Thomas Browne

Source

Religio Medici

Genre

Autobiography and memoir Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1643 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. Religio Medici. London, 1643, pt. 2, sect. 4.

Current Citation

Browne, Thomas, Sir. "Religio Medici (1643)." Thomas Browne: Selected Writings, edited by Kevin Killeen. Oxford University Press, 2018, pt. 2, sect. 4.

I would be married, but I'de have no Wife,
I would be married to a single Life.

Richard Crashaw

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Topic

Single life Marriage

Author

Richard Crashaw

Source

On Marriage Steps to the Temple

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1646 1640s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Crashaw, Richard. "On Marriage." Steps to the Temple. Humphrey Moseley, 1646, I. 1.