Wit and wisdom differ; wit is upon the sudden turn, wisdom is bringing about ends.

We measure the excellency of other men by some excellency we conceive to be in ourselves.

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.

When men comfort themselves with philosophy, 'tis not because they have got two or three sentences, but because they have digested those sentences, and made them their own: philosophy is nothing but discretion.

Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why He should grant this or that; He knows best wheat is good for us. If your boy should ask you for a suit of clothes and give you reasons, would you endure it? You know his needs better than he; let him ask for a suit of clothes.

I have taken much pains to know everything that is esteemed worth knowing amongst men; but with all my reading, nothing now remains to comfort me at the close of this life but this passage of St. Paul: "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." To this I cleave, and herein do I find rest.

Pride may be allowed to this or that degree, else a man cannot keep up his dignity.