Quotes by Elizabeth I

A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing.

— Elizabeth I

Courage

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

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

— 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

Courage

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.

— Elizabeth I

Life

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

— 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

Life

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

— Elizabeth I

The past cannot be cured.

— Elizabeth I

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

— Elizabeth I

I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown.

— Elizabeth I

God forgive you, but I never can.

— Elizabeth I

All my possessions for a moment of time.

— Elizabeth I

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

— 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.

— Elizabeth I

Courage

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

— Elizabeth I

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

— Elizabeth I

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

— 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

Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst.

— Elizabeth I

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

— Elizabeth I

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.

— Elizabeth I

Where minds differ and opinions swerve there is scant a friend in that company.

— Elizabeth I

Friendship