It is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one.

Houses are built to live in, and not to look on: therefore let use be preferred before uniformity.

God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.

For first of all we must prepare a Natural and Experimental History, sufficient and good; and this is the foundation of all; for we are not to imagine or suppose, but to discover, what nature does or may be made to do.

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.

The fortune which nobody sees makes a person happy and unenvied.

Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects and please or displease only in the memory.