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.

Men of noble birth are noted to be envious towards new men when they rise. For the distance is altered, and it is like a deceit of the eye, that when others come on they think themselves go back.

The mold of our fortunes is in our own hands.

Important families are like potatoes. The best parts are underground.

Good fame is like fire; when you have kindled you may easily preserve it; but if you extinguish it, you will not easily kindle it again.

There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little, and therefore men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know more, and not keep their suspicions in smother.

States are great engines moving slowly.