Man is distinguished not only by his reason, but also by this singular passion, from all other animals.

Competition of praise inclineth to a reverence of antiquity. For men contend with the living, not with the dead.

No arts, no letters - no society.

To this war of every man against every man, this also in consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues.

As soon as a thought darts, I write it down.

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

[Necessity is] the sum of all things, which being now existent, conduce and concur to the production of that action hereafter, whereof if any one thing now were wanting, the effect could not be produced. This concourse of causes, whereof every one is determined to be such as it is by a like concourse of former causes, may well be called (in respect they were all set and ordered by the eternal causes of all things, God Almighty) the decree of God.