John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
447 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 447 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, ’t were all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch’d But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Herself the glory of a creditor, Both thanks and use. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Measure for Measure. Act i. Sc. 1. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |