The next way home's the farthest way about.

I'll ne'er distrust my God for cloth and bread while lilies flourish and the raven 's fed.

He that gives all, though but little, gives much; because God looks not to the quantity of the gift, but to the quality of the givers.

So use prosperity, that adversity may not abuse thee: if in the one, security admits no fears, in the other, despair will afford no hopes; he that in prosperity can foretell a danger can in adversity foresee deliverance.

Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.

Mercy turns her back to the unmerciful.

If thy desire to raise thy fortunes encourage thy delights to the casts of fortune, be wise betimes, lest thou repent too late; what thou gettest, thou gainest by abused providence; what thou losest, thou losest by abused patience; what thou winnest is prodigally spent; what thou losest is prodigally lost; it is an evil trade that prodigally drives; and a bad voyage where the pilot is blind.