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