Nor do apophthegms only serve for ornament and delight, but also for action and civil use, as being the edge-tools of speech which cut and penetrate the knots of business and affairs: for occasions have their revolutions, and what has once been advantageously used may be so again, either as an old thing or a new one.

Parents who wish to train up their children in the way they should go must go in the way in which they would have their children go.

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 is both politic and moral.

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

Men seem neither to understand their riches nor their strength. Of the former they believe greater things than they should; of the latter, less.

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

We read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.