There is no one subsists by himself alone.

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

To trust God when we have securities in our iron chest is easy, but not thankworthy; but to depend on him for what we cannot see, as it is more hard for man to do, so it is more acceptable to God.

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

Meditation is the soul's perspective glass.

No man can expect to find a friend without faults; nor can he propose himself to be so to another. Without reciprocal mildness and temperance there can be no continuance of friendship. Every man will have something to do for his friend, and something to bear with in him. The sober man only can do the first; and for the latter, patience is requisite. It is better for a man to depend on himself, than to be annoyed with either a madman or a fool.

A combed writing will cost both sweat and the rubbing of the brain. And combed I wish it, not frizzled or curled.