Careful Words

be (n.)

be (v.)

be (adv.)

be (adj.)

We thinke no greater blisse then such

To be as be we would,

When blessed none but such as be

The same as be they should.

William Warner (1558-1609): Albion's England. Book x. chap. lix. stanza 68.

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;

Do noble things, not dream them, all day long:

And so make life, death, and that vast forever

One grand sweet song.

Charles Kingsley (1819-1875): A Farewell.

Well, honour is the subject of my story.

I cannot tell what you and other men

Think of this life; but, for my single self,

I had as lief not be as live to be

In awe of such a thing as I myself.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Julius Caesar. Act i. Sc. 2.

  It matters not what you are thought to be, but what you are.

Publius Syrus (42 b c): Maxim 785.

No better than you should be.

Beaumont And Fletcher: The Coxcomb. Act iv. Sc. 3.

  Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

New Testament: Matthew xiv. 27.

  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

New Testament: Romans xii. 21.

  Be not righteous overmuch.

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes vii. 16.

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act ii. Sc. 2.

  The powers that be are ordained of God.

New Testament: Romans xiii. 1.

Be sure you are right, then go ahead.

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act iv. Sc. 5.

Be ye all of one mind.

New Testament: 1 Peter iii. 8.

  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

New Testament: Ephesians iv. 26.

Besides, this Duncan

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

So clear in his great office, that his virtues

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

The deep damnation of his taking-off;

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,

Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,

And falls on the other.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Macbeth. Act i. Sc. 7.