In truth, knowledge is a great and very useful quality; those who despise it give evidence enough of their stupidity. Yet I do not set its value at that extreme measure that some attribute to it.

No man is so exquisitely honest or upright in living, but that ten times in his life he might not lawfully be hanged.

Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.

The secret counsels of princes are a troublesome burden to such as have only to execute them.

What harm cause not those huge draughts or pictures which wanton youth with chalk or coals draw in each passage, wall or stairs of our great houses, whence a cruel contempt of our natural store is bred in them?

To behave rightly, we ourselves should never lay a hand on our servants as long as our anger lasts. Things will seem different to us when we have quieted and cooled down.

A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.