Science is but an image of the truth.

God’s first creature, which was light.

Severity breedeth fear, but roughness breedeth hate. Even reproofs from authority ought to be grave and not taunting.

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order.

It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding that it can hold men’s hearts by hopes when it cannot by satisfaction

Surely every medicine is an innovation, and he that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils.

I have taken all knowledge to be my province

He that travelleth into a country before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel.

Ask a counsel of both times-of the ancient time what is best, and of the latter time what is fittest

If we begin with certainties, we will end in doubt. But if we begin with doubts and bear them patiently, we may end in certainty.

Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man’s self; and where there is no comparison, no envy.

The speaking in perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but love

Time is the measure of business.

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires

There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise

If any human being earnestly desires to push on to new discoveries instead of just retaining and using the old; to win victories over Nature as a worker rather than over hostile critics as a...

Custom is the principal magistrate of man’s life.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.

To choose time is to save time.

A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

It was prettily devised of Aesop, ”The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise! ”

Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth. For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is...

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand–and melting like a snowflake…

The creative process is a cocktail of instinct, skill, culture and a highly creative feverishness. It is not like a drug; it is a particular state when everything happens very quickly, a mixture of consciousness...

Out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, traditions, private records and evidences, fragments of stories, passages of books, and the like, we do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time

Men in great place are thrice servants, – servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.

Nuptial love makes mankind; friendly love perfects it; but wanton love corrupts and debases it.

People of great position are servants times three, servants of their country, servants of fame, and servants of business.

A man’s nature runs either to herbs, or to weeds; therefore let him seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune.

Reading maketh a full man.

No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage-ground of truth.

Our humanity were a poor thing were it not for the divinity which stirs within us

Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.

Knowledge and human power are synonymous.

It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.

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

Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.

Nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body, and it addeth no small reverence to men’s manners and actions if they be not altogether open. Therefore set it down: That a habit of secrecy...

The pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon.

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men’s heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.

The best preservative to keep the mind on health is the faithful admonition of a friend.