Men do not know the natural infirmity of their mind: it does nothing but ferret and quest, and keeps incessantly whirling around, building up and becoming entangled in its own work, like silkworms, and is suffocated in it. A mouse in a pitch barrel...thinks it notices from a distance some sort of glimmer of imaginary light and truth; but while running toward it, it is crossed by so many difficulties and obstacles, and diverted by so many new quests, that it strays from the road, bewildered.

A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can.

[Marriage] happens as with cages: the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.

Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself.

There is no greater enemy to those who would please than expectation.

If ordinary people complain that I speak too much of myself, I complain that they do not even think of themselves.

The souls of emperors and cobblers are cast in the same mold...The same reason that makes us wrangle with a neighbor creates a war betwixt princes.