Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness.

It was truly very good reason that we should be beholden to God only, and to the favour of his grace, for the truth of so noble a belief, since from his sole bounty we receive the fruit of immortality, which consists in the enjoyment of eternal beatitude.... The more we give and confess to owe and render to God, we do it with the greater Christianity.

How many valiant men we have seen to survive their own reputation!

There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.

The most ordinary things, the most common and familiar, if we could see them in their true light, would turn out to be the grandest miracles.

Why dost thou complain of this world? It detains thee not; thy own cowardice is the cause, if thou livest in pain.

Like the watermen who advance forward while they look backward.