The love of life is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of any undertaking

Were it not for imagination a man would be as happy in the arms of a chambermaid as of a duchess.

Whosoever shall look heedfully upon those who are eminent for their riches will not think their condition such as that he should hazard his quiet, and much less his virtue, to obtain it, for all that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune is more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice, a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness.

There are in every age new errors to be rectified and new prejudices to be opposed.

To mean understandings, it is sufficient honour to be numbered amongst the lowest labourers of learning; but different abilities must find different tasks. To hew stone, would have been unworthy of Palladio; and to have rambled in search of shells and flowers, had but ill suited with the capacity of Newton.

Time quickly puts an end to artificial and accidental fame

Men who cannot deceive others are very often successful at deceiving themselves.