That from small fires comes oft no small mishap.

That from small fires comes oft no small mishap.

What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs,
What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things.

What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs,
What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things.

Thou marvell'st at my words, but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

Thou marvell'st at my words, but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill.

So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown
When judges have been babes; great floods have flown
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So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown
When judges have been babes; great floods have flown
From simple sources, and great seas have dried
When miracles have by the greatest been denied.

As thou sowest, so shalt thou reap.
[Sp., Ut sementem feceris, ita metes.]

As thou sowest, so shalt thou reap.
[Sp., Ut sementem feceris, ita metes.]

The ends must justify the means.

The ends must justify the means.

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a
stone, it will return upon him.

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a
stone, it will return upon him.

As you sow y' are like to reap.

As you sow y' are like to reap.

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er,
The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.

So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er,
The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.