Rome was in the most dangerous inclination to change on account of the unequal distribution of wealth and property, those of highest rank and greatest spirit having impoverished themselves by shows, entertainments, ambition of offices, and sumptuous buildings, and the riches of the city having thus fallen into the hands of mean and low-born persons. So that there wanted but a slight impetus to set all in motion, it being in the power of every daring man to overturn a sickly commonwealth.

And Archimedes, as he was washing, thought of a manner of computing the proportion of gold in King Hiero's crown by seeing the water flowing over the bathing-stool. He leaped up as one possessed or inspired, crying, "I have found it! Eureka!".

The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.

Real excellence, indeed, is most recognized when most openly looked into.

Nature without learning is blind, learning apart from nature is fractional, and practice in the absence of both is aimless.

We rich men count our felicity and happiness to lie in these superfluities, and not in those necessary things.

Rest is the sweet sauce of labor.