Riches, though they may reward virtues, yet they cannot cause them; he is much more noble who deserves a benefit than he who bestows one.

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

There is no belittling worse than to over praise a man.

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

Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect, change is the way to perfect them.

Virtue is the truest liberty.

Any man shall speak the better when he knows what others have said, and sometimes the consciousness of his inward knowledge gives a confidence to his outward behavior, which of all other is the best thing to grace a man in his carriage.