The human understanding is of its own nature prone to suppose the existence of more order and regularity in the world than it finds. And though there be many things in nature which are singular and unmatched, yet it devises for them parallels and conjugates and relatives which do not exist. Hence the fiction that all celestial bodies move in perfect circles, spirals and dragons being (except in name) utterly rejected.

The images of mens wits and knowledge remain in books. They generate still, and cast their seeds in the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding ages

I would live to study, not study to live.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.

The genius, wit, and the spirit of a nation are discovered by their proverbs.

People prefer to believe what they want to be true.

Truth is a good dog; but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.