The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.
Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.
A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.
Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.
Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.
He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.
The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.
Friends are thieves of time.
If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.
Life, an age to the miserable, and a moment to the happy.
Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.
It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.
A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words.
Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.
Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite.
What is truth? said jesting Pilate and would not stay for an answer.
Next to religion, let your care be to promote justice.
I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death.
Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.
I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.
We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.
The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
Truth is a good dog but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.
God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.
Studies perfect nature and are perfected still by experience.
By indignities men come to dignities.
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
God's first creature, which was light.
Age appears to be best in four things old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.
Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience.
Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.
Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.
Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.
A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner.
Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.
Fashion is only the attempt to realize art in living forms and social intercourse.
Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other.
Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread.
Small amounts of philosophy lead to atheism, but larger amounts bring us back to God.
Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.
Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.
God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.
Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men's nurses.
Acorns were good until bread was found.