31 Quotes & Sayings By Elizabeth I

I observe and remain silent. Elizabeth I

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. . Elizabeth I

(Response to King Erik XIV of Sweden's proposal of marriage:)"[ W]hile we perceive .. the zeal and love of your mind towards us is not diminished, yet in part we are grieved that we cannot gratify your Serene Highness with the same kind of affection. And that indeed does not happen because we doubt in any way of your love and honour, but, as often we have testified both in words and writing, that we have never yet conceived a feeling of that kind of affection towards anyone. We therefore beg your Serene Highness again and again that you be pleased to set a limit to your love, that it advance not beyond the laws of friendship for the present nor disregard them in the future.. We certainly think that if God ever direct our hearts to consideration of marriage we shall never accept or choose any absent husband how powerful and wealthy a Prince soever. But that we are not to give you an answer until we have seen your person is so far from the thing itself that we never even considered such a thing. I have always given both to your brother .. and also to your ambassador likewise the same answer with scarcely any variation of the words, that we do not conceive in our heart to take a husband but highly commend this single life, and hope that your Serene Highness will no longer spend time in waiting for us. Elizabeth I

[F]rom my years of understanding .. I happily chose this kind of life in which I yet live [i.e., unmarried], which I assure you for my own part hath hitherto best contented myself and I trust hath been most acceptable to God. From the which if either ambition of high estate offered to me in marriage by the pleasure and appointment of my prince .. or if the eschewing of the danger of my enemies or the avoiding of the peril of death .. could have drawn or dissuaded me from this kind of life, I had not now remained in this estate wherein you see me. But so constant have I always continued in this determination .. yet is it most true that at this day I stand free from any other meaning that either I have had in times past or have at this present. . Elizabeth I

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. Elizabeth I

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king Elizabeth I

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

I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say I ever meant, I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate. I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned, Since from myself another self I turned. My care is like my shadow in the sun, Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it, Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done. Elizabeth I

My care is like my shadow in the sun, Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it, Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done. Elizabeth I

I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything. Elizabeth I

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. Elizabeth I

Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states. Elizabeth I

I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman. Elizabeth I

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

A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head. Elizabeth I

My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England's hate neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me. Elizabeth I

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

The past cannot be cured. Elizabeth I

I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people. Elizabeth I

I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception. Elizabeth I

Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested. Elizabeth I

God forgive you, but I never can. Elizabeth I

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

I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married. Elizabeth I