The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things.

The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as well as men, and the innocent as well as the subtle, may make it their own; and it is by order and good conduct, and not by force, that it is to be acquired.

The middle sort of historians (of which the most part are) spoil all; they will chew our meat for us.

We should be similarly wary of accepting common opinions; we should judge them by the ways of reason not by popular vote.

A good marriage (if any there be) refuses the conditions of love and endeavors to present those of amity.

The births of all things are weak and tender and therefore we should have our eyes intent on beginnings.

I, who am king of the matter I treat, and who owe an accounting for it to no one, do not for all that believe myself in all I write. I often hazard sallies of my mind which I mistrust.