The rulers of the earth are all worth knowing; they suggest moral reflections: and the respect that one naturally has for God's vice-regents here on earth is greatly increased by acquaintance with them.

I am grown old, and have possibly lost a great deal of that fire, which formerly made me love fire in others at any rate, and however attended with smoke: but now I must have all sense, and cannot, for the sake of five righteous lines, forgive a thousand absurd ones.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Good humor is the health of the soul, sadness is its poison.

The most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers.

A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones.