Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other.

Nothing destroys authority more than the unequal and untimely interchange of power stretched too far and relaxed too much.

There is no vice that doth so cover a man with shame as to be found false and perfidious.

But by far the greatest obstacle to the progress of science and to the undertaking of new tasks and provinces therein is found in this-that men despair and think things impossible.

Consistency is the foundation of virtue.

By this means we presume we have established for ever, a true and legitimate marriage between the Empirical and Rational faculty; whose fastidious and unfortunate divorce and separation hath troubled and disordered the whole race and generation of mankind.

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.