So cowards fight when they can fly no further;
So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons;
read more

So cowards fight when they can fly no further;
So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons;
So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives,
Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers.

E'en a crow o' th' same nest; not altogether so great as the
first in goodness, but greater a read more

E'en a crow o' th' same nest; not altogether so great as the
first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels
his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the
best that is. In a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in
coming on he has the cramp.

The coward threatens when he is safe.

The coward threatens when he is safe.

There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.

There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.

Cowardice ... is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.

Cowardice ... is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.

Fear has its use but cowardice has none.

Fear has its use but cowardice has none.

The coward only threatens when he is safe.
[Ger., Der Fiege droht nur, wo er sicher ist.]

The coward only threatens when he is safe.
[Ger., Der Fiege droht nur, wo er sicher ist.]

To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine read more

Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat i' th' adage?