Wine refreshes the stomach, sharpens the appetite, blunts care and sadness, and conduces to slumber.

A god cannot procure death for himself, even if he wished it, which, so numerous are the evils of life, has been granted to man as our chief good.

There is an herb named in Latine Convolvulus (i.e. with wind), growing among shrubs and bushes, with carrieth a flower not unlike to this Lilly, save that it yeeldeth no smell nor hath those chives within; for whitenesse they resemble one another very much, as if Nature in making this floure were a learning and trying her skill how to frame the Lilly indeed.

Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.

Nature has given man no better thing than shortness of life.

The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.

Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations.