Whatever convenience may be thought to be in falsehood and dissimulation, it is soon over; but the inconvenience of it is perpetual, because it brings a man under everlasting jealousy and suspicion, so that he is not believed when he speaks the truth, nor trusted when perhaps he means honestly.

Wealth and riches, that is, an estate above what sufficeth our real occasions and necessities, is in no other sense a 'blessing' than as it is an opportunity put into our hands, by the providence of God, of doing more good.

Next to the wicked lives of men, nothing is so great a disparagement and weakening to religion as the divisions of Christians.

If the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure sincerity is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have such a quality as he pretends to?

Men sunk in the greatest darkness imaginable retain some sense and awe of the Deity.

The art of using deceit and cunning grow continually weaker and less effective to the user.

Surely modesty never hurt any cause; and the confidence of man seems to me to be much like the wrath of man.