Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.

Knowledge hath in it somewhat of the serpent, and therefore where it entereth into a man it makes him swell.

The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.

Men are rather beholden ... generally to chance or anything else, than to logic, for the invention of arts and sciences.

When any of the four pillars of government-religion, justice, counsel, and treasure-are mainly shaken or weakened, men had need to pray for fair weather.

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.