If I read as many books as most men do, I would be as dull-witted as they are.

It's not the pace of life I mind. It's the sudden stop at the end.

In sum, all actions and habits are to be esteemed good or evil by their causes and usefulness in reference to the commonwealth, and not by their mediocrity, nor by their being commended. For several men praise several customs, and, contrarily, what one calls vice, another calls virtue, as their present affections lead them.

The Imagination that is raised in man (or any other creature imbued with the faculty of imagining) by words, or other voluntary signs, is that we generally call Understanding; and is common to Man and Beasts.

There is no such thing as perpetual tranquillity of mind while we live here; because life itself is but motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.

Prudence is but experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men in those things they equally apply themselves unto.

A wise man should so write (though in words understood by all men) that wise men only should be able to commend him.