Others form man; I tell of him, and portray a particular one, very ill-formed, whom I should really make very different from whathe is if I had to fashion him over again. But now it is done.

The religion of my doctor or my lawyer cannot matter. That consideration has nothing in common with the functions of the friendship they owe me.

Meditation is a powerful and full study as can effectually taste and employ themselves.

There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

If love and ambition should be in equal balance, and come to jostle with equal force, I make no doubt but that the last would win the prize.

There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.

There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.