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

Neither is it safe to count upon the weakness of any man's understanding, who is thoroughly possessed of the spirit of revenge to sharpen his invention.

When any one person or body of men seize into their hands the power in the last resort, there is properly no longer a government, but what Aristotle and his followers call the abuse and corruption of one.

I hate nobody: I am in charity with the world.

Religion seems to have grown an infant with age, and requires miracles to nurse it, as it had in its infancy.

Religion supposed Heaven and Hell, the word of God, and sacraments, and twenty other circumstances which, taken seriously, are a wonderful check to wit and humour.

Men of wit, learning and virtue might strike out every offensive or unbecoming passage from plays.