The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude.

It cannot be denied that outward accidents conduce much to fortune, favor, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue; but chiefly, the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands

A picture should be a re-creation of an event rather than an illustration of an object; but there is no tension in the picture unless there is a struggle with the object.

A graceful and pleasing figure is a perpetual letter of recommendation.

I had rather believe all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, then that this universall Frame, is without a Minde. And therefore, God never wrought Miracle, to convince Atheisme, because his Ordinary Works Convince it. It is true, that a little Philosophy inclineth Mans Minde to Atheisme; But depth in Philosophy, bringeth Mens Mindes about to Religion.

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

A man were better relate himself to a statue or picture than to suffer his thoughts to pass in smother.