A dull head thinks of no better way to show himself wise, than by suspecting everything in his way.

Courage ought to be guided by skill, and skill armed by courage. Neither should hardiness darken wit, nor wit cool hardiness. Be valiant as men despising death, but confident as unwonted to be overcome.

There is nothing sooner overthrows a weak head than opinion by authority, like too strong a liquor for a frail glass.

As in labor, the more one doth exercise, the more one is enabled to do, strength growing upon work; so with the use of suffering, men's minds get the habit of suffering, and all fears and terrors are not to them but as a summons to battle, whereof they know beforehand they shall come off victorious.

In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.

With a tale, forsooth, he cometh unto you; with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner.

There is nothing evil but what is within us; the rest is either natural or accidental.