Saint Ambrose

Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless it is to Thee, O God of majesty and love, that I turn in my extremity, for Thou art the fount of mercy; to Thee, as quickly as I may, I speed: for Thou alone canst heal me; I take refuge under Thy protection.

Italian Saint

John Donne

Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow. Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

British Poet

Omar Khayyam

Living Life Tomorrow's fate, though thou be wise, Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise; Pass, therefore, not today in vain, For it will never come again.

Poet

Francis Thompson

All things by immortal power. Near of far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star.

English Poet

William Shakespeare

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.

English Playwright

George Herbert

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee.

Used in old literature or poetry, not in modern English conversation or writing.

Archaic Usage

'Canst' always follows 'thou', which is an old form of 'you'.

Thou + canst

Using 'canst' in writing can give a historical or intricate quality to the text.

Literary Flair

 he says And this above to thine own self be true. And it doth follow, as night the day, that thou canst not then be false to any man. And those three verses are the core of authenticity.

Joseph Pine: What...

 Dialogue gives a story color, makes it exciting and moves it forward. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?