Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is in reality so much power.

The little and short sayings of nice And excellent men are of great value, like the dust of gold, or the least sparks of diamonds.

To be able to bear provocation is an argument of great reason, and to forgive it of a great mind.

There is no readier way for a man to bring his own worth into question than by endeavoring to detract from the worth of other men.

How often might a man, after he had jumbled a set of letters in a bag, fling them out upon the ground before they would fall into an exact poem, yea, or so much as make a good discourse in prose? And may not a little book be as easily made by chance as this great volume of the world?

If people would but provide for eternity with the same solicitude and real care as they do for this life, they could not fail of heaven.

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