Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.

For many parts of Nature can neither be invented with sufficient subtlety, nor demonstrated with sufficient perspicuity, nor accommodated unto use with sufficient dexterity, without the aid and intervening of the mathematics, of which sort are perspective, music, astronomy, cosmography, architecture, engineery, and divers others.

People prefer to believe what they want to be true.

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

It is a great happiness when men's professions and their inclinations accord.

Very few people have a natural feeling for painting, and so, of course, they naturally think that painting is an expression of the artist's mood. But it rarely is. Very often he may be in greatest despair and be painting his happiest paintings.

Riches are for spending.