Our nature holds so much envy and malice that our pleasure in our own advantages is not so great as our distress at others'.

For it was not so much that by means of words I came to a complete understanding of things, as that from things I somehow had an experience which enabled me to follow the meaning of words.

Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as packs.

If Nature be not improved by instruction, it is blind; if instruction be not assisted by Nature, it is maimed; and if exercise fail of the assistance of both, it is imperfect.

Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.

Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny.

It is a true proverb, that if you live with a lame man, you will learn to limp.