Who knows whether the best of men be known? or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgot, than any that stand remembered in the known account of time?

Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude.

There is nothing strictly immortal, but immortality. Whatever hath no beginning may be confident of no end.

If riches increase, let thy mind hold pace with them; and think it not enough to be liberal, but munificent.

Men have lost their reason in nothing so much as their religion, wherein stones and clouts make martyrs.

I am the happiest man alive. I have that in me that can convert poverty to riches, adversity to prosperity, and I am more invulnerable than Archilles; Fortune hath not one place to hit me.

Persecution is a bad and indirect way to plan religion.