Elizabeth I

God has given such brave soldiers to this Crown that, if they do not frighten our neighbours, at least they prevent us from being frightened by them.

Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind.

Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: That I have reigned with your loves.

The stone often recoils on the head of the thrower.

Kings were wont to honour philosophers, but if I had such I would honour them as angels that should have such piety in them that they would not seek where they are the second to be the first, and where the third to be the second and so forth.

As for me, I see no such great cause why I should either be fond to live or fear to die. I have had good experience of this world, and I know what it is to be a subject and what to be a sovereign. Good neighbours I have had, and I have met with bad: and in trust I have found treason.

Prosperity provideth, but adversity proveth friends.

I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.

I have seen many a man turn his gold into smoke, but you are the first who has turned smoke into gold.

As for my own part I care not for death, for all men are mortal; and though I be a woman yet I have as good a courage answerable to my place as ever my father had. I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am indeed endowed with such qualities that if I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom.

Life is for living and working at. If you find anything or anybody a bore, the fault is in yourself.