Jeremy Taylor

Adultery itself in its principle is many times nothing but a curious inquisition after, and envy of another man's enclosed pleasures: and there have been many who refused fairer objects that they might ravish an enclosed woman from her retirement and single possessor.

— Jeremy Taylor

A celibate, like the fly in the heart of an apple, dwells in a perpetual sweetness, but sits alone, and is confined and dies in singularity.

— Jeremy Taylor

God hath prepared a little coronet or special reward (extraordinary and beside the great crown of all faithful souls) for those who have not defiled themselves with women.

— Jeremy Taylor

No man can tell but he that loves his children, how many delicious accents make a man's heart dance in the pretty conversation of those dear pledges; their childishness, their stammering, their little angers, their innocence, their imperfections, their necessities, are so many little emanations of joy and comfort to him that delights in their persons and society.

— Jeremy Taylor

Conscience in most men, is but the anticipation of the opinions of others.

— Jeremy Taylor

Every act of virtue is an ingredient unto reward.

— Jeremy Taylor

What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of science is not able to make an oyster.

— Jeremy Taylor

Curiosity is the direct incontinence of the spirit.

— Jeremy Taylor

He that loves not his wife and children feeds a lioness at home, and broods a nest of sorrows.

— Jeremy Taylor

Habits are the daughters of action, but then they nurse their mother, and produce daughters after her image, but far more beautiful and prosperous.

— Jeremy Taylor

Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error to an afflicted truth.

— Jeremy Taylor

When you lie down with a short prayer, commit yourself into the hands of your Creator; and when you have done so, trust Him with yourself, as you must do when you are dying.

— Jeremy Taylor

Whatsoever we beg of God, let us also work for it.

— Jeremy Taylor

Nothing is greater or more fearful sacrilege than to prostitute the great name of God to the petulancy of an idle tongue.

— Jeremy Taylor

He that speaketh against his own reason speaks against his own conscience, and therefore it is certain that no man serves God with a good conscience who serves him against his reason.

— Jeremy Taylor

Secrecy is the chastity of friendship.

— Jeremy Taylor

Know that you are your greatest enemy, but also your greatest friend.

— Jeremy Taylor

The best theology is rather a divine life than a divine knowledge.

— Jeremy Taylor

He that is proud of riches is a fool. For if he is exalted above his neighbors because he has more gold, how much inferior is he to a gold mine.

— Jeremy Taylor