The senses are of the earth, the reason stands apart from them in contemplation.

When Fortune comes, seize her in front with a sure hand, because behind she is bald.

The motions of men must be such as suggest their dignity or their baseness.

Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose

Every action needs to be prompted by a motive.

Very great charm of shadow and light is to be found in the faces of those who sit in the doors of dark houses. The eye of the spectator sees that part of the face which is in shadow lost in the darkness of the house, and that part of the face which is lit draws its brilliancy from the splendour of the sky. From this intensification of light and shade the face gains greatly in relief and beauty by showing the subtlest shadows in the light part and the subtlest lights in the dark part.

The discovery of a good wine is increasingly better for mankind than the discovery of a new star.