I love the man that is modestly valiant; that stirs not till he most needs, and then to purpose. A continued patience I commend not.

It is much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him; victory may deprive him of his poison, but reconciliation of his will.

We pick our own sorrows out of the joys of other men, and from their sorrows likewise we derive our joys.

It is a most unhappy state to be at a distance with God: man needs no greater infelicity than to be left to himself.

He who would be singular in his apparel had need have something superlative to balance that affectation.

Gold is the fool's curtain, which hides all his defects from the world.

Contemplation is necessary to generate an object, but action must propagate it.