Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.

It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion. For while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them, confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.

Out of monuments, names, words proverbs ...and the like, we do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time.

Ill Fortune never crushed that man whom good fortune deceived not.

Those herbs which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but, being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild thyme and watermints. Therefore, you are to set whole alleys of them, to have the pleasure when you walk or tread.

It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.

I would like my pictures to look as if a human being had passed between them, like a snail, leaving a trail of the human presence and memory trace of past events, as the snail leaves its slime.