People have discovered that they can fool the devil; but they can't fool the neighbors.

A good name is like precious ointment ; it filleth all round about, and will not easily away; for the odors of ointments are more durable than those of flowers.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.

...neither is it possible to discover the more remote and deeper parts of any science, if you stand but upon the level of the same science, and ascend not to a higher science.

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.

It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives

Anger is certainly a kind of baseness; as it appears well in the weakness of those subjects in whom it reigns; children, women, old folks, sick folks. Only men must beware, that they carry their anger rather with scorn, than with fear; so that they may seem rather to be above the injury, than below it; which is a thing easily done, if a man will give law to himself in it.