Marriage is like a cage; one sees the birds outside desperate to get in, and those inside equally desperate to get out.

Since we cannot attain unto it, let us revenge ourselves by railing at it; and yet it is not absolutely railing against anything, to proclaim its defects, because they are in all things to be found, how beautiful or how much to be coveted soever.

The smallest annoyances, disturb us the most.

Intemperance is the plaque of sensuality, and temperance is not its bane but its seasoning.

When a Roman was returning from a trip, he used to send someone ahead to let his wife know, so as not to surprise her in the act.

Ambition is, of all other, the most contrary humor to solitude; and glory and repose are so inconsistent that they cannot possibly inhabit one and the same place; and for so much as I understand, those have only their arms and legs disengaged from the crowd, their mind and intention remain engaged behind more than ever.

There is more ado to interpret interpretations than to interpret things, and more books upon books than upon any other subject; we do nothing but comment upon one another. Every place swarms with commentaries; of authors there is great scarcity.