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

Reason has so many forms that we do not know which to choose-Experiment has no fewer.

Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is: "I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false." Their sacramental word is . . . , which is to say, I suspend my judgment.

Water, earth, air, fire, and the other parts of this structure of mine are no more instruments of your life than instruments of your death. Why do you fear your last day? It contributes no more to your death than each of the others. The last step does not cause the fatigue, but reveals it. All days travel toward death, the last one reaches it.

A person is bound to lose when he talks about himself; if he belittles himself, he is believed; if he praises himself, he isn't believed.

Report followeth not all goodness, except difficulty and rarity be joined thereto.

My trade and art is to live.