If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest
of men, I will find read more

If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest
of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.
[Fr., Qu'on me donne six lignes ecrites de la main du plus
honnete homme, j'y trouverai de quoi le faire pendre.]

Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword.

Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword.

The swifter hand doth the swift words outrun:
Before the tongue hath spoke the hand hath done.

The swifter hand doth the swift words outrun:
Before the tongue hath spoke the hand hath done.

The pen wherewith thou dost so heavenly sing
Made of a quill from an angel's wing.

The pen wherewith thou dost so heavenly sing
Made of a quill from an angel's wing.

Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do,
the practise of a fair and read more

Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do,
the practise of a fair and quick hand in writing; for it is no
immaterial accomplishment.
[Lat., Non sest aliena res, quae fere ab honestis negligi solet,
cura bene ac velociter scribendi.]

The pen is mightier than the sword.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

You write with ease, to show your breeding,
But easy writing's curst hard reading.

You write with ease, to show your breeding,
But easy writing's curst hard reading.

The feather, whence the pen
Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men,
Dropped from read more

The feather, whence the pen
Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men,
Dropped from an Angel's wing.

Art thou a pen, whose task shall be
To drown in ink
What writers think?
read more

Art thou a pen, whose task shall be
To drown in ink
What writers think?
Oh, wisely write,
That pages white
Be not the worse for ink and thee.