Oliver Cromwell > Quotes

“He who stops being better stops being good.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“Do not trust to the cheering, for those very persons would shout as much if you and I were going to be hanged.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“Necessity has no law.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“Consider That Ye May Be Wrong.”
― Oliver Cromwell, Cromwell's Letters and Speeches: Volume Two

“God made them as stubble to our swords.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“A man never goes so far as when he does not know whither he is going.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.”
― Oliver Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's Letters And Speeches: With Elucidations By Thomas Carlyle: In Three Volumes, Volume 2

“Subtlety may deceive you; intedrity never will.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

-Oliver Cromwell on the Dissolution of Parliament (April 20, 1653)”
― Oliver Cromwell

“I do not believe that this is an evil king. But he is confused. And he cannot say no to his wife. Therefore if it please God I shall raise an army of men who are not confused. Stern men who say no to the tyranny of kings and wives. Men who make no confusion over the ordained place of man and woman, king and subject. And with these stern, God-fearing men, I shall ride. And we shall be called Ironsides because we are like iron, being hard both day and night. And the king shall find us unyielding, like a rod of iron, and shall give us satisfaction. Like our wives!”
― Oliver Cromwell, Speeches of Oliver Cromwell

“Sir, what can be said of these things? Is it the arm of the flesh that hath done these things? Is it the wisdom and counsel, or strength of man? It is the Lord only. God will curse that man and his house that dares to think otherwise. Sir, you see the work is done by a Divine leading. God gets into the hearts of men, and persuades them to come under you.”
― Oliver Cromwell, Cromwell's Letters and Speeches: Volume Two

“Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man who would keep all wine out of the country, lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon a supposition he may abuse it. When he doth abuse it, judge.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power and resolution for foes to tremble at.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“Our manly ways and stern simplicity wreak much confusion to the enemy's councils. For they are men yet garb themselves as women, wearing wigs and finery and lace. And for this offense if it be God's will we will come upon them in the night, from the rear, and penetrate their degenerate bodies with our holy truth. For we are manly saints and possess the full swelling hardness of our faith, which gushes forevermore from Christ's unyielding root.”
― Oliver Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches

“Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imagined necessities... are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretenses to break known rules by.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“A man never goes so far as when he does not know wither he is going.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“I had rather have a plain russet-coated captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a gentleman and is nothing else.”
― Oliver Cromwell

“I beseech you…think it possible that you may be mistaken.”
― Oliver Cromwell