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.
Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.
There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of is the best physic to preserve health.
Young people are fitter to invent than to judge fitter for execution than for counsel and more fit for new projects than for settled business.
He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.
Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.
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.
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience.
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
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.
God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
Small amounts of philosophy lead to atheism, but larger amounts bring us back to God.
God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
He that gives good advice, builds with one hand he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.
He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.
When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.
There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.
Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
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.
The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.
People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom.