For whatever deserves to exist deserves also to be known, for knowledge is the image of existence, and things mean and splendid exist alike.

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

I want a very ordered image, but I want it to come about by chance.

Then bless thy secret growth, nor catch At noise, but thrive unseen and dumb; Keep clean, be as fruit, earn life, and watch, Till the white-wing'd reapers come.

Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.

The inclination to goodness is imprinted deeply in the nature of man.

The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.