{"id":152263,"date":"2023-09-09T10:42:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T10:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.english-culture.com\/?p=152263"},"modified":"2025-05-07T16:39:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T16:39:40","slug":"john-florio-quotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.english-culture.com\/john-florio-quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"John Florio quotes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"John<\/a>
John Florio A World of Words<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Florio quotes, proverbs and aphorisms. If this done it may please you, as I wish it may, and I hope it shall, I with you shall be pleased. Though not, yet still I am the same resolute.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

N.B.<\/strong> To find out more about John Florio, Samuel Daniel, Edward de Vere, Mary Sidney, Christopher Marlowe, and other great authors of the English Renaissance you can read William Shakespeare Aphoristic Dictionary<\/a> with essays edited by Carl William Brown, a great book of 600 pages. It includes 8 essays, with hundreds of quotes, a rich preface to explain Shakespeare, his work, his talent and his time; 200 opinions and value judgments on Shakespeare by great authors and scholars; 562 entry words with more than 3,000 aphorisms; 90 famous texts and soliloquies of Shakespeare, extrapolated from the entire corpus of the Bard and a detailed commented biography. As a matter of fact we have, a dedication, a preface, an introduction, the following essays; aphoristic wisdom, Shakespeare time, Shakespeare greatness, Shakespeare reputation, English Renaissance, Shakespeare identity, Shakespeare sources; then we have the Aphoristic dictionary and Shakespeare famous texts, a conclusion text, plus the bibliography, the list of entry words and the Index of contents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Firste Fruites which yeelde familiar speech, merie prouerbes, wittie sentences, and golden sayings. Also a perfect induction to the Italian, and English tongues, as in the table appeareth. The like heretofore, neuer by any man published (1578). <\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

To use them (proverbs) is a grace, to understand them a good, but to gather them a paine to me, though game to thee. I, but for all that I must not scope without some new flout: now would I were by thee to give thee another, and surely I would give thee bread for cake. Farewell if thou meane well; els fare as ill, as thou wishest me to fare.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

For proverbs are the pith, the proprieties, the proofs, the purities, the elegancies, as the commonest so the commendablest phrases of a language. To use them is a grace, to understand them a good.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Forgive thy friends: they would, but cannot praise, inough\u2019 the wit, art, language of thy PLAYES: forgive thy foes; they will not praise thee. Why? Thy Fate hath thought it best, they should envy.<\/span>
\nFaith, for thy FOXES sake, forgive them those who are not worthy to be friends, nor foes. Or, for their owne brave sake, let them be still fooles at thy mercy, and like what they will.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio (London 1607 Verses devoted to Ben Jonson for the publication of Volpone)<\/span><\/p>\n

As for critics I accompt of them as crickets (…<\/span>) they lurke in corners but catch cold if they look out (…<\/span>) they are bred of filth & fed with filth, what vermine to call them I know not, or wormes or flies or what worse? (…<\/span>) they do not seek honie with the bee, but suck poison with the spider. (…<\/span>) As for me, for it is I, and I am an Englishman in italiane; I know They have a knife at command to cut my throate \u201cUn Inglese Italianato \u00e8 un Diavolo incarnato\u201d.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/a>, To the Reader, Second Frutes<\/span><\/p>\n

L. May a man know your name I pray?<\/span>
\nG. Yea sir, why not? My name is William.<\/span>
\nL. I pray you sir tell me your name.<\/span>
\nG. I am called W. at your commandement.<\/span>
\nL. What countrey man, and of what place are you?<\/span>
\nG. I am Italian, and of Padoa, at your commandement.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio, Second Frutes, VI<\/span><\/p>\n

My old fellow Nolano (Giordano Bruno) told me that from translation all science had its off-spring.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio, Montaigne\u2019s Essays, To the reader (1603)<\/span><\/p>\n

Unto a deadly disease, neyther Phisition nor phisick wil serve.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

A good husband makes a good wife.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

A deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Musick is said to be the reioysing of the hart: musicke comforteth the mynde, and feareth the enimie.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Praise the sea; on shore remain.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Patience is the best medicine.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>
John Florio quotes, proverbs, ideas and dialogues<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To long for that which comes not. To lie a-bed and sleep not. To serve well and please not. To have a horse that goes not. To have a man obeys not. To lie in jail and hope not. To be sick and recover not. To lose one’s way and know not. To wait at door and enter not, and to have a friend we trust not: are ten such spites as hell hath not.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Who has not served cannot command.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

England is the paradise of women, the purgatory of men, and the hell of horses.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Night is the mother of thoughts.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

We neede not speak so much of love, al books are ful of love, with so many authours, that it were labour lost to speake of Love.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio, First Fruites, Discourses uppon Musicke, and Love, 1578<\/span><\/p>\n

Be circumspect how you offend schollers, for knowe, a serpent tooth bites not so ill, as dooth a schollers angrie quill.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

To long for that which comes not. To lie a-bed and sleep not. To serve well and please not. To have a horse that goes not. To have a man obeys not. To lie in jail and hope not. To be sick and recover not. To lose one’s way and know not. To wait at door and enter not, and to have a friend we trust not: are ten such spites as hell hath not.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

And I am free of Michaels occupation, I eate and drinke, and walke for recreation.
\nJohn Florio
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

If you will be a traveler, have always two bags very full. That is one of patience and another of money.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Wisdom sails with wind and time.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

One hand washeth another, both the face.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Poverty is no vice, but an inconvenience.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

From the physician and lawyer keep not the truth hidden.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Fish marreth the water, and flesh doth dress it<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Who will not suffer labor in this world, let him not be born.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

What do the best then but glean after other’s harvest, borrow their colours, inherit their possessions?<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

\"John
John Florio as Translator of Montaigne’s Essais<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why, but learning would not be made common. Yea, but learning cannot be too common, and the commoner the better. Why, but who is not jealous his mistress should be so prostitute? Yea, but this mistress is like air, fire, water: the more breathed, the clearer; the <\/span>more extended, the warmer; the more drawn, the sweeter. It were inhumanity to coop her up, and worthy forfeiture close to conceal her.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Even philosophy, grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, and all the mathematics yet hold their name of the Greeks; and the Greeks drew their baptizing water from the conduit-pipes of the Egyptians, and they from the well-springs of the Hebrews or Chaldees.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but scholars should have some privilege of pre-eminence. So have they: they only are worthy translators.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but the vulgar should not know all. No, they cannot for all this, nor even scholars for much more; I would both could and knew much more than either doth or can.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but all would not be known of all. No, nor can: much more we know not than we know. All know something: none know all. Would all know all? They must break ere they be so big. God only: men far from God.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but pearls should not be cast to swine. Yet are rings put in their noses; and a swine should know his sty, and will know his meat and his medicine, and as much beside, as any swine doth suppose it to be marjoram. <\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but it is not well divinity should be a child\u2019s or old wives\u2019, a cobbler\u2019s or clothier\u2019s tale or table-talk. There is use, and abuse. Use none too much: abuse none too little. <\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but let learning be wrapped in a learned mantle. Yea, but to be unwrapped by a learned nurse. Yea, to be lapped up again; yea, and unlapped again. Else, hold we ignorance the mother of devotion, praying and preaching in an unknown tongue: as sorry a mother, as a seely daughter; a good mind perhaps, but surely an ill manner. If the best be mete for us, why should the best be barred?<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but the best wrote best in a tongue more unknown. Nay, in a tongue more known to them that wrote, and not unknown of them to whom they wrote.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but more honour to him that speaks more learned. Yea, such perhaps as Quintilian\u2019s orator: a learned man, I warrant him, for I understand him never a word.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but whom can I name that bore a great name for it? Nay, who great else, but either in part\u2014as Plato and Aristotle out of many; Tully, Plutarch, Pliny out of Plato, Aristotle and many – or of purpose, as all that since have made most know the Greek, and almost the Latin, even translated their whole treatises?<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but that Scaliger thinks that Ficinus by his rustical simplicity translated Plato as if an owl should represent an eagle, or some tara-rag player should act the princely Telephus with a voice as ragged as his clothes, a grace as bad as his voice.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

If the famous Ficinus were so faulty, who may hope to \u2019scape scot-free? But for him and us all, let me confess, as he here censureth, and let confession make half amends, that every language hath its genius and inseparable form; without, Pythagoras his \u201cmetempsychosis\u201d it cannot rightly be translated.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, then, belike I have done by Montaigne as Terence by Menander, made of good French no good English. If I have done no worse, and it be no worse taken, it is well. As he, if no poet, yet am I no thief, since I say of whom I had it, rather to imitate his and his authors\u2019 negligence than any backbiter\u2019s obscure diligence.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Why, but essays are but men\u2019s school-themes pieced together. You might as well say, several texts. All is in the choice and handling. <\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

As he, if no poet, yet am I no thief, since I say of whom I had it, rather to imitate his and his authors\u2019 negligence than any backbiter\u2019s obscure diligence.<\/span>
\nJohn Florio<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also William Shakespeare and John Florio<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also John Florio’s Biography<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also visit the following websites to find out more about John Florio:<\/span><\/p>\n

John Florio website in English and Italian<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Lamberto Tassinari videos on John Florio<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

John Florio is Shakespeare website<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Shakespeare and Florio website<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Florio Shakespeare authorship<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

What is in a name? A lot, in some instances<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"YouTube