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!

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.

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.

It is better to be killed than frightened to death.

It is better to be killed than frightened to death.

Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was
afterwards boldest in words and tongue.
read more

Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was
afterwards boldest in words and tongue.
[Lat., Ignavissimus quisque, et ut res docuit, in periculo non
ausurus, nimis verbis et lingua feroces.]

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.

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.]