Cromwell Quotations

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QUOTES BY OLIVER CROMWELL

1599-1658

* "I WAS BY BIRTH A GENTLEMAN, LIVING NEITHER IN ANY CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT, NOR YET IN OBSCURITY. I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SEVERAL EMPLOYMENTS IN THE NATION-TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENTS,-AND ( BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE OVER TEDIOUS ) I DID ENDEVOUR TO DISCHARGE THE DUTY OF AN HONEST MAN IN THOSE SERVICES, TO GOD, AND HIS PEOPLE’S INTEREST, AND OF THE COMMONWEALTH; HAVING, WHEN TIME WAS, A COMPETENT ACCEPTATION IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, AND SOME EVIDENCE THEREOF."

On himself, speech to the First Parliament of the Protectorate, Sept, 1654.

Antonia Fraser; Cromwell, Our Chief of Men.

* "IF THE REMONSTRANCE HAD BEEN REJECTED I WOULD HAVE SOLD ALL I HAD THE NEXT MORNING AND NEVER HAVE SEEN ENGLAND MORE, AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHER MODEST MEN OF THE SAME RESOLUTION."

Oliver Cromwell on Parliament’s passing of the revolutionary Grand Remonstrance, Quoted in the Earl of Clarendon, A History of the Rebellion.

The English Civil War.

* "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."

A Letter from Cromwell to Sir William Spring. Sept. 1643.

Taken from Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

* "TRULY ENGLAND AND THE CHURCH OF GOD HATH HAD A GREAT FAVOUR FROM THE LORD, IN THIS GREAT VICTORY GIVEN US."

Oliver Cromwell on the Battle of Marston Moor. 1644.

* "WE STUDY THE GLORY OF GOD, AND THE HONOUR AND LIBERTY OF PARLIAMENT, FOR WHICH WE UNAMINOUSLY FIGHT, WITHOUT SEEKING OUR OWN INTERESTS...."

Oliver Cromwell to Colonal Valentine Walton. 5 or 6 September 1644.

* "I COULD NOT RIDING OUT ALONE ABOUT MY BUSINESS, BUT SMILE OUT TO GOD IN PRAISES, IN ASSURANCE OF VICTORY BECAUSE GOD WOULD, BY THINGS THAT ARE NOT, BRING TO NAUGHT THINGS THAT ARE".

Cromwell before the Battle of Naseby. 1645.

* "SINCE PROVIDENCE AND NECESSITY HAS CAST THEM UPON IT, HE SHOULD PRAY GOD TO BLESS THEIR COUNCELS."

Cromwell on the trial of King Charles I. Dec. 1648.

*

* "CRUEL NECESSITY".

Cromwell on the execution of King Charles I. Jan 1649.

* "THIS IS A RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT OF GOD UPON THESE

BARBAROUS WRETCHES, WHO HAVE IMBRUED THEIR HANDS IN SO MUCH INNOCENT BLOOD...."

Oliver Cromwell after the storming of Drogheda.1649.

* "I BESEECH YOU IN THE BOWELS OF CHRIST THINK IT POSSIBLE YOU MAY BE MISTAKEN."

In a letter to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 1650.

* "THE DIMENSIONS OF THIS MERCY ARE ABOVE MY THOUGHTS. IT IS FOR AUGHT I KNOW, A CROWNING MERCY."

In a letter. 1651.

* "TAKE AWAY THAT FOOL’S BAUBLE, THE MACE"

Oliver Cromwell in a speech dismissing the Rump Parliament. Apr. 1653.

* "NO ONE RISES SO HIGH AS HE WHO KNOWS NOT WHITHER HE IS GOING."

Cromwell on personal fortunes.

* "YOU ARE AS LIKE THE FORMING OF GOD AS EVER PEOPLE WERE...YOU ARE AT THE EDGE OF PROMISES AND PROPHECIES."

Cromwell addressing the Barebones Parliament. July 1653.

Antonia Fraser; Cromwell, Our Chief of Men.

* "YOU HAVE BEEN SAT TO LONG HERE FOR ANY GOOD YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. DEPART, I SAY, AND LET US HAVE DONE WITH YOU. IN THE NAME OF GOD, GO!."

Addressing the Rump Parliament. April 1653.

Memorials of English Affairs. Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

* "THE PEOPLE WOULD BE JUST AS NOISY IF THEY WERE GOING TO SEE ME HANGED."

Cromwell referring to a cheering crowd.1654

Who Said What When; Chronological Dictionary of Quotations.

* "WEEDS AND NETTLES, BRIARS AND THORNS, HAVE THRIVEN UNDER YOUR SHADOW, DISSETTLEMENT AND DIVISION, DISCONTENTMENT AND DISSATISFACTION, TOGETHER WITH REAL DANGERS TO THE WHOLE."

Cromwell’s speech dissolving the 1st Protectoral Parliament.

* "NECESSITY HATH NO LAW."

Speech to Parliament, Sept. 1654.

* "IN EVERY GOVERNMENT THERE MUST BE SOMEWHAT FUNDAMENTAL, SOMEWHAT LIKE A MAGNA CHARTA, THAT SHOULD BE STANDING AND UNALTERABLE...THAT PARLIAMENTS SHOULD NOT MAKE THEMSELVES PERPETUAL IS A FUNDAMENTAL."

Cromwell in a speech to the first Protectorate Parliament, 12 September 1654.

* "NOT WHAT THEY WANT BUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM."

Remark by Oliver Cromwell.

* "MR LELY, I DESIRE YOU WOULD USE ALL YOUR SKILL TO PAINT YOUR PICTURE TRULY LIKE ME, AND NOT FLATTER ME AT ALL; BUT REMARK ALL THESE ROUGHNESS, PIMPLES, WARTS, AND EVERYTHING AS YOU SEE ME; OTHERWISE I WILL NEVER PAY A FARTHING FOR IT."

Cromwell on having his portrait painted, in Horace Walpole, Anecdotes of Painting.

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

* "MY DESIGN IS TO MAKE WHAT HASTE I CAN TO BE GONE."

Cromwell’s last words; in Cromwell, by John Morely.

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.