Elizabeth I

God forgive you, but I never can.

And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too.

There is nothing about which I am more anxious than my country, and for its sake I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be possible.

Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.

There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles.

Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts.

Ye may have a greater prince, but ye shall never have a more loving prince.

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.

I shall lend credit to nothing against my people which parents would not believe against their own children.

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

Where might is mixed with wit, there is too good an accord in a government.

All my possessions for a moment of time.

There is an Italian proverb which saith, From my enemy let me defend myself; but from a pretensed friend Lord deliver me

Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word.

I am no lover of pompous title, but only desire that my name may be recorded in a line or two, which shall briefly express my name, my virginity, the years of my reign, the reformation of religion under it, and my preservation of peace.

A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past.

I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.

I will have here but one mistress and no master.

The word must is not to be used to princes.

There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God.