All Quotes by Oliver Cromwell
“Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.”
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”
“I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a Gentle-man and is nothing else.”
“Not only strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.”
“He who stops being better stops being good.”
“A few honest men are better than numbers.”
“I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.”
“Put your trust in God; but be sure to keep your powder dry.”
“The State, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions. If they be willing faithfully to serve it, that satisfies.”
“I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, and to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken this government.”
“God made them as stubble to our swords.”
“We are Englishmen; that is one good fact.”
“Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.”
“Nature can do more than physicians.”
“Necessity has no law.”
“What is all our histories, but God showing himself, shaking and trampling on everything that he has not planted.”
“Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.”
“Who can love to walk in the dark? But providence doth often so dispose.”
“Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.”
“If the remonstrance had been rejected I would have sold all I had the next morning and never have seen England more, and I know there are many other modest men of the same resolution.”
“I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that you call a Gentleman and is nothing else.”
“A few honest men are better than numbers.”
“The State, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions; if they be willing faithfully to serve it – that satisfies. I advised you formerly to bear with men of different minds from yourself:”
“God made them as stubble to our swords.”
“Truly England and the church of God hath had a great favour from the Lord, in this great victory given us.”
“We study the glory of God, and the honour and liberty of parliament, for which we unanimously fight, without seeking our own interests... I profess I could never satisfy myself on the justness of this war, but from the authority of the parliament to maintain itself in its rights; and in this cause I hope to prove myself an honest man and single-hearted.”
“I could not riding out alone about my business, but smile out to God in praises, in assurance of victory because God would, by things that are not, bring to naught things that are.”
“This is our comfort, God is in heaven, and He doth what pleaseth Him; His, and only His counsel shall stand, whatsoever the designs of men, and the fury of the people be.”
“Since providence and necessity has cast them upon it, he should pray God to bless their counsels.”
“I tell you we will cut off his head with the crown upon it.”
“Cruel necessity.”
“If we do not depart from God, and disunite by that departure, and fall into disunion among ourselves, I am confident, we doing our duty and waiting upon the Lord, we shall find He will be as a wall of brass round about us till we have finished that work which he has for us to do.”
“This is a righteous judgement of God upon these barbarous wretches, who have imbrued their hands in so much innocent blood.”
“Do not trust to that; for these very persons would shout as much if you and I were going to be hanged.”
“I need pity. I know what I feel. Great place and business in the world is not worth looking after.”
“I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.”
“Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy, to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition that he may abuse it.”
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”
“I am neither heir nor executor to Charles Stuart.”
“The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is for aught I know, a crowning mercy.”
“Shall we seek for the root of our comforts within us; what God hath done, what he is to us in Christ, is the root of our comfort. In this is stability; in us is weakness. Acts of obedience are not perfect, and therefore yield not perfect peace. Faith, as an act, yields it not, but as it carries us into him, who is our perfect rest and peace; in whom we are accounted of, and received by, the Father, even as Christ himself. This is our high calling. Rest we here, and here only.”
“Take away that fool’s bauble, the mace.”
“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”
“When I went there, I did not think to have done this. But perceiving the spirit of God so strong upon me, I would not consult flesh and blood.”
“You are as like the forming of God as ever people were... you are at the edge of promises and prophecies.”
“God has brought us where we are, to consider the work we may do in the world, as well as at home.”
“Nature can do more than physicians.”
“Though peace be made, yet it's interest that keep peace.”
“There are some things in this establishment that are fundamental... about which I shall deal plainly with you... the government by a single person and a parliament is a fundamental... and... though I may seem to plead for myself, yet I do not: no, nor can any reasonable man say it... I plead for this nation, and all the honest men therein.”
“In every government there must be somewhat fundamental, somewhat like a Magna Charta, that should be standing and unalterable... that parliaments should not make themselves perpetual is a fundamental.”
“Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imagined necessities... are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretenses to break known rules by.”
“I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation — to serve in parliaments, — and ( because I would not be over tedious ) I did endeavour to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to God, and his people’s interest, and of the commonwealth; having, when time was, a competent acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence thereof.”
“I desire not to keep my place in this government an hour longer than I may preserve England in its just rights, and may protect the people of God in such a just liberty of their consciences...”
“Weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.”
“We are Englishmen; that is one good fact.”
“Men have been led in dark paths, through the providence and dispensation of God. Why, surely it is not to be objected to a man, for who can love to walk in the dark? But providence doth often so dispose.”
“You have accounted yourselves happy on being environed with a great ditch from all the world beside.”
“That which brought me into the capacity I now stand in, was the Petition and Advice given me by you, who, in reference to the ancient Constitution, did draw me here to accept the place of Protector. There is not a man living can say I sought it, no not a man, nor woman, treading upon English ground.”
“I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than undertook such a Government as this is.”
“He who stops being better stops being good.”
“I would be willing to live and be farther serviceable to God and his people; but my work is done. Yet God will be with his people.”
“It is not my design to drink or to sleep, but my design is to make what haste I can to be gone.”
“Now I see there is a people risen that I cannot win with gifts or honours, offices or places; but all other sects and people I can.”
“Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.”
“Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.”
“Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.”