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Alfred the Great Quotes
840–890 England
Ælfrēd or Alfred the Great (849–26 October 899), king of Wessex from 871 to 899, was responsible for turning back the Danish invasion of Wessex and for promoting a revival of education, scholarship, law and administration. His translations of theological and philosophical works into Old English are sometimes said to have laid the foundations of English prose.
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13 quotes
Remember what punishments befell us in this world when we ourselves did not cherish learning nor transmit it to other men.
Doom very evenly! Do not doom one doom to the rich; another to the poor! Nor doom one doom to your friend; another to your foe!
I desired to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works.
When the Sun Clearest shineth Serenest in the heaven, Quickly are obscured All over the earth Other stars.
He seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear.
The Founder of the English MONARCHY and LIBERTY.
In short, I wanted to live honorably as long as I lived, and leave behind, for the people who would come after me, the memory of me in good works.
When I recalled how knowledge of Latin had previously decayed throughout England, and yet many could still read things written in English, I then began, amidst the various and multifarious afflictions of this kingdom, to translate into English the book which in Latin is called Pastoralis, in English "Shepherd-book", sometimes word for word, sometimes sense for sense.
Never believe the speech of all men, nor all the things that you hear sung.
Misattributed
As Alfred says, that learned king: "The hated man can't intercede; The angry man's not fit to plead."
Misattributed
He þat is ute biloken he is inne sone forgeten.
Misattributed
For Alfred seide a wis word, euch mon hit schulde legge on hord: "3ef thu isihst er he beo icume, his strencþe is him wel neh binume."
Misattributed
Ne ches þe neuere to fere littele mon ne long ne red... Þe luttele mon he his so rei, ne mai non him wonin nei... Þe lonke mon is leþe bei, selde comid is herte rei... Þe rede mon he is a quet, for he wole þe þin iwil red he is cocker, þef and horeling, scolde, of wrechedome he is king...
Misattributed
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