That things are changed, and that nothing really perishes, and that the sum of matter remains exactly the same, is sufficiently certain.

He that seeketh to be eminent amongst able men hath a great task; but that is ever good for the public. But he that plots to be the only figure amongst ciphers is the decay of a whole age.

Take an arrow, and hold it in flame for the space of ten pulses, and when it cometh forth you shall find those parts of the arrow which were on the outsides of the flame more burned, blacked, and turned almost to coal, whereas the midst of the flame will be as if the fire had scarce touched it. This is an instance of great consequence for the discovery of the nature of flame; and sheweth manifestly, that flame burneth more violently towards the sides than in the midst.

But the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempted from the wrong of time, and capable of perpetual renovation.

The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.

Suspicions that the mind, of itself, gathers, are but buzzes; but suspicions that are artificially nourished and put into men's heads by the tales and whisperings of others, have stings.

Men on their side must force themselves for a while to lay their notions by and begin to familiarize themselves with facts.