Lily Livered Quotes & Sayings

Of course, in fairness, I must remind you of this: that we writers are the most lily-livered of all craftsmen. We expect more, for the most peewee efforts, than any other people. — Brenda Ueland

The other held a hand toward the wretched boy in the dung-heap. "Father Uhtred," he said. "His name is not Uhtred," I snarled, "and if he dares call himself Uhtred," I looked at him as I spoke, "then I will find him and I will cut his belly to the bone and I will feed his lily-livered guts to my swine. He is not my son. He's not worthy to be my son." The man who was not worthy to be my son clambered wetly from the dung-heap, dripping filth. He looked up at me. "Then what am I called?" he asked. "Judas," I said mockingly. — Bernard Cornwell

A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a
base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited,
hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a
lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson,
glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue;
one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a
bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but
the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar,
and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I
will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest
the least syllable of thy addition. — William Shakespeare

I have no will of my own. Never did. Limp and lily-livered, I always obey - is it possible that's attractive to women? — Anton Chekhov

I'll kill you all," yelled Bill, and swore for three or four minutes, calling us every dirty name he could think of for being so chicken-hearted. When people talk about "leadership quality" I often think of Bill Unsworth; he had it. And like many people who have it, he could make you do things you didn't want to do by a kind of cunning urgency. We were ashamed before him. Here he was, a bold adventurer, who had put himself out to include us
lily-livered wretches
in a daring, dangerous, highly illegal exploit, and all we could do was worry about being hurt! We plucked up our spirits and swore and shouted filthy words, and set to work to wreck the house. — Robertson Davies

You just wait and see. The lily-livered b*stards in Washington will demobilize. They'll say they've made the world safe for democracy again. The Russians are not such d*mned fools. They'll rebuild; and with modern weapons. — George S. Patton

Sally - Those fucking dickless - okay, maybe not that - lily-livered, spineless, impotent - okay, not that either - chickenhearted, dim-witted, gutless Doms. — Cherise Sinclair

Democrats - lily-livered, weasel-assed collaborators. — Michael Parenti

Reaper?" Tedros blurted. "If you think for one second I'm allowing that Satan-worshipper in my castle - " "Your castle? I thought it was our castle." "Which means we get a pet we both like." "No Reaper, no me." "No you, then." "You puffed-up, lily-livered, mule-headed - " Agatha stopped and saw Sophie goggling at the two of them. "I really am better off, aren't I?" said Sophie. All three of them burst into laughter. — Soman Chainani

Go, prick thy face and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-livered boy. — William Shakespeare

I can well imagine a lily-livered coward shying away from taking you on. But don't try to tell me that you haven't had your chances. I refuse to believe that every man in Hampshire is blind and stupid. Unless thin English blood is to blame." "You forget I've got thin English blood." He smiled. "There's nothing thin about your blood, lassie. Perhaps that's why it takes a proud Scot to see your true worth. I don't want a milk-and-water miss at my side. I want a woman of strength and fire. A woman like you." Shocked, she struggled to sit up. He'd started out with the familiar teasing, but purpose had resonated through that declaration. "Nobody's ever said anything like that to me before." "I want a wife to share my joys and troubles." His Scottish burr deepened with every word. "I want a wife who meets a challenge with a sparkle in her eyes. I want a wife who gives me a run for my money." Inside — Anna Campbell