It is not easy to fall into any absurdity, unless it be by the length of an account; wherein he may perhaps forget what went before. For all men by nature reason alike, and well, when they have good principles.

The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.

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

When it happeneth that a man signifieth unto us two contradictory opinions whereof the one is clearly and directly signified, andthe other either drawn from that by consequence, or not known to be contradictory to it; then (when he is not present to explicate himself better) we are to take the former of his opinions; for that is clearly signified to be his, and directly, whereas the other might proceed from error in the deduction, or ignorance of the repugnancy.

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

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

There is more in Mersenne than in all the universities together.