The blessings of fortune are the lowest; the next are the bodily advantages of strength and health; but the superlative blessings, in fine, are those of the mind.

We never think of the main business of life till a vain repentance minds us of it at the wrong end.

Men talk as if they believed in God, but they live as if they thought there was none; their vows and promises are no more than words, of course.

Partiality in a parent is unlucky; for fondlings are in danger to be made fools.

The very soul of the slothful does effectually but lie drowsing in his body, and the whole man is totally given up to his senses.

The devil helps his servants for a season; but when they get into a pinch; he leaves them in the lurch.

It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a studious man to have his thoughts disordered by a tedious visit.