I do not much wish well to discoveries, for I am always afraid they will end in conquest and robbery.

Difference of thoughts will produce difference of language. He that thinks with more extent than another, will want words of a larger meaning; he that thinks with more subtilty will seek for terms of more nice discrimination; and where is the wonder, since words are but the images of things, that he who never knew the original should not know the copies?

He who aspires to be a serious wine drinker must drink claret.

He that resigns his peace to little casualties, and suffers the course of his life to be interrupted for fortuitous inadvertencies or offences, delivers up himself to the direction of the wind, and loses all that constancy and equanimity which constitutes the chief praise of a wise man.

There must always be some advantage on one side or the other, and it is better that advantage should be had by talents than by chance.

Cunning differs from wisdom as twilight from open day.

There may be other reasons for a man's not speaking in publick than want of resolution: he may have nothing to say.