Elizabeth I Quotes

1533-1603, Queen of England and Ireland (1558-1603)
quotes
5
topics
4
Origin
Topic
“I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.”
VerifiedStatement to the envoy of Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg while discussing a proposal of marriage to the duke's son, Christoph. (26 January 1563), quoted by J. Horace Round in "A Visit to Queen Elizabeth," The Nineteenth Century magazine (October 1896) · evidenceMarriage
“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.”
Necessity
“I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place in Christendom.”
VerifiedResponse to Parliament (October 1566) · evidenceRoyalty
“Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: that I have reigned with your loves. And though you have had, and may have, many mightier and wiser princes sitting in this seat; yet you never had, nor shall have any that will love you better.”
Royalty
“Although I may not be a lioness, I am a lion's cub, and inherit many of his qualities; and as long as the King of France treats me gently he will find me as gentle and tractable as he can desire; but if he be rough, I shall take the trouble to be just as troublesome and offensive to him as I can.”
Kindness