Principally I hate and detest that animal called man; although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth.

When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings.

So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with less.

For the rest, whatever we have got has been by infinite labor, and search, and ranging through every corner of nature; the difference is that instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax, thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.

Lose no time to contradict her, Nor endeavor to convict her; Only take this rule along, Always to advise her wrong, And reprove her when she's right; She may then grow wise for spite.

The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age; but that of a good one will not reform it.

Nothing is so great an instance of ill-manners as flattery.