Prophecy is many times the principal cause of the events foretold.

Do not that to another, which thou wouldst not have done to thyself.

This I know; God cannot sin, because his doing a thing makes it just, and consequently, no sin.... And therefore it is blasphemy to say, God can sin; but to say, that God can so order the world, as a sin may be necessarily caused thereby in a man, I do not see how it is any dishonor to him.

For if I should not believe all that is written by Historians, of the glorious acts of Alexander, or Caesar; I do not think the Ghost of Alexander, or Caesar, had any just cause to be offended; or any body else, but the Historian. If Livy say the Gods made once a Cow speak, and we believe it not; we distrust not God therein, but Livy. So that it is evident, that whatsoever we believe, upon no other reason, then what is drawn from authority of men only, and their writings; whether they be sent from God or not, is Faith in men only.

I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.

... it is one thing to desire, another to be in capacity fit for what we desire.

The Papacy is not other than the Ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.