A just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of war

When he wrote a letter, he would put that which was most material in the postscript, as if it had been a by-matter

The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.

Suspicion amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they never fly by twilight.

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

[Knowledge is] a rich storehouse for the glory of the Creator, and the relief of man’s estate.

Seek not proud wealth; but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and love contentedly

Imagination was given man to compensate for what he is not, and a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Who questions much, shall learn much, and retain much.

He that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils: for Time is the greatest innovator: and if Time, of course, alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them...

I would address one general admonition to all, that they consider what are the true ends of knowledge, and that they seek it not either for pleasure of the mind, or for contention, or for...

Young men are fitter to invent than to judge, fitter for execution than for counsel, and fitter for new projects than for settled business.

Oh! death will find me long before I tire of watching you.

Mark what a generosity and courage (a dog) will put on when he finds himself maintained by a man, who to him is instead of a God

Look to make your course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect.

Many secrets of art and nature are thought by the unlearned to be magical.

For my name and memory, I leave it to men’s charitable speeches, to foreign nations, and to the next ages.

It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man’s judgment.

A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well

If thou would’st have that stream of hard-earn’d knowledge, of Wisdom heaven-born, remain sweet running waters, thou should’st not leave it to become a stagnant pond.

Nobility of birth commonly abateth industry.

The monuments of wit survive the monuments of power.

For also knowledge itself is power.

It was a good answer that was made by one who when they showed him hanging in a temple a picture of those who had paid their vows as having escaped shipwreck, and would have...

Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the wise, the admiration of fools, the idols of paradise, and the slaves of their own vaunts

There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place

Cure the disease and kill the patient.

The lame man who keeps the right road outstrips the runner who takes a wrong one. Nay, it is obvious that the more active and swift the latter is the further he will go astray.

Therefore if a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

Men commonly think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions, but generally act according to custom

It is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one.

Virtue is like a rich stone, – best plain set.

In things that a man would not be seen in himself, it is a point of cunning to borrow the name of the world; as to say, “”The world says,”” or “”There is a speech...

Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects and please or displease only in the memory.

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

the serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

Friendship redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in half

What then remains but that we still should cry for being born, and, being born, to die?

I would live to study, and not study to live.

Fortune his like the market, where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall

Men suppose their reason has command over their words; still it happens that words in return exercise authority on reason

It is nothing won to admit men with an open door, yet to receive them with a shut and reserved countenance.

The world’s a bubble; and the life of man,/ Less than a span.

The pleasure and delight of knowledge and learning, it far surpasseth all other in nature

The human understanding, from its peculiar nature, easily supposes a greater degree of order and equality in things than it really finds

There are some other that account wife and children but as bills of charges

Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

I hold every man a debtor to his profession.