Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention read more

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and
a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on
usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them
doth curse me.

'Tis a hydra's head contention; the more they strive the more they
may: and as Praxiteles did by his read more

'Tis a hydra's head contention; the more they strive the more they
may: and as Praxiteles did by his glass, when he saw a scurvy
face in it, brake it in pieces; but for that one he saw many more
as bad in a moment.

But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
read more

But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
From sharp contentions.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

Did thrust (as now) in other's corn his sickle.
- Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas,

Did thrust (as now) in other's corn his sickle.
- Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas,

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]

In excessive altercation, truth is lost.
[Lat., Nimium altercando veritas amittitur.]

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman
are alike.

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman
are alike.

Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

Contentions fierce,
Ardent, and dire, spring from no petty cause.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our
skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our
skill. Our antagonist is our helper.