Weakness is the only fault that is incorrigible.

The distempers of the soul have their relapses, as many and as dangerous as those of the body; and what we take for a perfect cureis generally either an abatement of the same disease or the changing of that for another.

Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.

Those great and glorious actions that dazzle our eyes with their luster are represented by statesmen as the result of great wisdomand excellent design; whereas, in truth, they are commonly the effects of the humors and passions.

It is with sincere affection or friendship as with ghosts and apparitions,--a thing that everybody talks of, and scarce any hath seen.

Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.

People always complain about their memories, never about their minds.