Thomas Fuller (1608–61) was an English scholar, preacher, and one of the most humorous and prolific authors of the 17th century.
Born in Aldwinkle St Peter’s, Northamptonshire, Fuller studied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and became prebendary of Salisbury in 1631 and rector of Broadwindsor, Dorset, in 1634.
Fuller’s witty and popular style won him an extensive reputation. Of his historical writings, the most famous are his Church-History of Britain (1655) and his Worthies of England (posthumous, 1662.) He worked on both of these for a great part of his life, collecting some of his material during his campaigns with the royalist forces in the Civil War.
Fuller’s most popular work is The Holy State and the Profane State (1642,) an engaging collection of character sketches illuminating the Christian moral ideal. He also wrote a History of the Holy War (1639,) on the Crusades, besides other works.
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A fox should not be of the jury at a goose’s trial.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Justice
Conceit not so high an opinion of any one as to be bashful and impotent in their presence.
—Thomas Fuller
Despair gives courage to a coward.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Courage, Despair
The greatest man living may stand in need of the meanest, as much as the meanest does of him.
—Thomas Fuller
Good words cost no more than bad.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Words
Search not a Wound too deep, lest thou make a new one.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Laughter
What cannot be altered must be borne, not blamed.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Perseverance, Endurance, Resolve
He that would have the fruit must first climb the tree.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Success, Courage, Risk, Effort
First get an absolute conquest over thyself, and then thou wilt easily govern thy wife.
—Thomas Fuller
The real difference between men is energy. A strong will, a settled purpose, an invincible determination, can accomplish almost anything; and in this lies the distinction between great men and little men.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Success, Enthusiasm, Men
There is no banquet but some dislike something in it.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Gratitude, Blessings, Appreciation
All doors open to courtesy.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Manners
How weak a thing is gentility, if it wants virtue!
—Thomas Fuller
A man is not good or bad for one action.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Judgment
He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Advice, Health
Poor men’s reasons are not heard.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Poverty
A man in passion rides a horse that runs away with him.
—Thomas Fuller
He that has one eye is a prince among those that have none.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Power
Rashness is the faithful but unhappy parent of misfortune.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Misfortunes
Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Gratitude
A proverb is much matter decocted into a few words.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Proverbs, Words
If it were not for hope, the heart would break.
—Thomas Fuller
We never know the worth of water ’til the well is dry.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: One liners, Value
Choose such pleasures as recreate much and cost little.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Pleasure
Great and good are seldom the same man.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Greatness, Greatness & Great Things
Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: One liners, Gardening
He is a good man whom fortune makes better.
—Thomas Fuller
He that’s cheated twice by the same man is an accomplice with the cheater.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Failures, Mistakes
He is rich that is satisfied.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Gratitude, Blessings, Appreciation, Satisfaction
Many have been the wise speeches of fools, though not so many as the foolish speeches of wise men.
—Thomas Fuller
It is much better to have your gold in the hand than in the heart.
—Thomas Fuller
A name is a kind of face whereby one is known; wherefore taking a false name is a kind of visard whereby men disguise themselves.
—Thomas Fuller
Topics: Names
One cloud is enough to eclipse all the sun.
—Thomas Fuller