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.

Who knows himself a braggart,
Let him fear this; for it will come to pass
That every read more

Who knows himself a braggart,
Let him fear this; for it will come to pass
That every braggart shall be found an ass.

The coward threatens when he is safe.

The coward threatens when he is safe.

Fear even when morbid is not cowardice. That is the label we reserve for something that a man does. What read more

Fear even when morbid is not cowardice. That is the label we reserve for something that a man does. What passes through his mind is his own affair.

You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that read more

You souls of geese,
That bear the shapes of men, how have you run
From slaves that apes would men!

Cowards can never be moral.

Cowards can never be moral.

You are like the eels of Melun; you cry out before you are
skinned.
[Fr., Vous semblez les read more

You are like the eels of Melun; you cry out before you are
skinned.
[Fr., Vous semblez les anguilles de Melun; vous criez devant
qu'on vous esorche.]

The coward wretch whose hand and heart can bear to torture ought below, Is ever first to quail and start read more

The coward wretch whose hand and heart can bear to torture ought below, Is ever first to quail and start from the slightest pain or equal foe.

How many cowards whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
read more

How many cowards whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars,
Who inward searched, have livers white as milk!