In all negotiations of difficulty, a man may not look to sow and reap at once; but must prepare business, and so ripen it by degrees.

All of our actions take their hue from the complexion of the heart, as landscapes their variety from light.

For it is most true that a natural and secret hatred and aversation towards society in any man, hath somewhat of the savage beast.

In every great time there is some one idea at work which is more powerful than any other, and which shapes the events of the time and determines their ultimate issues.

Consistency is the foundation of virtue.

I'm working for myself; what else have I got to work for? How can you work for an audience? What do you imagine an audience would want? I have got nobody to excite except myself, so I am always surprised if anyone likes my work sometimes. I suppose I'm very lucky, of course, to be able to earn my living by something that really absorbs me to try to do, if that is what you call luck.

There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom.