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
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
Conscience in most men, is but the anticipation of the opinions of others.
– Jeremy Taylor
Curiosity is the direct incontinence of the spirit.
– Jeremy Taylor
Every act of virtue is an ingredient unto reward.
– 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
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
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
He that loves not his wife and children feeds a lioness at home, and broods a nest of sorrows.
– 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
Know that you are your greatest enemy, but also your greatest friend.
– Jeremy Taylor
Love is friendship set on fire.
– Jeremy Taylor
Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error to an afflicted truth.
– 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
Secrecy is the chastity of friendship.
– Jeremy Taylor
The best theology is rather a divine life than a divine knowledge.
– Jeremy Taylor
Whatsoever we beg of God, let us also work for it.
– 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
It is impossible to make people understand their ignorance; for it requires knowledge to perceive it and therefore he that can perceive it hath it not.
– Jeremy Taylor
Mistake not. Those pleasures are not pleasures that trouble the quiet and tranquillity of thy life.
– Jeremy Taylor
To be proud of learning is the greatest ignorance.
– Jeremy Taylor
Marriage is the mother of the world. It preserves kingdoms, and fills cities and churches, and heaven itself.
– Jeremy Taylor
If anger proceeds from a great cause, it turns to fury if from a small cause, it is peevishness and so is always either terrible or ridiculous.
– Jeremy Taylor
A religion without mystery must be a religion without God.