He that, when he should not, spends too much, shall, when he would not, have too little to spend.

Discontents are sometimes the better part of our life. I know not well which is the most useful; joy I may choose for pleasure, but adversities are the best for profit; and sometimes those do so far help me, as I should, without them, want much of the joy I have.

Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect change is the way to perfect them. It gets the name of wilfulness when it will not admit of a lawful change to the better. Therefore constancy without knowledge cannot be always good. In things ill it is not virtue, but an absolute vice.

There is no detraction worse than to overpraise a man, for if his worth proves short of what report doth speak of him, his own actions are ever giving the lie to his honor.

Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment

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

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