Contemplation is to knowledge what digestion is to food - the way to get life out of it

True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.

We never do evil so thoroughly and heartily as when led to it by an honest but perverted, because mistaken, conscience.

Nature hath nothing made so base, but can read some instruction to the wisest man.

Preventives of evil are far better than remedies; cheaper and easier of application, and surer in result.

The first evil choice or act is linked to the second; and each one to the one that follows, both by the tendency of our evil nature and by the power of habit, which holds us as by a destiny

Most of our censure of others is only oblique praise of self, uttered to show the wisdom and superiority of the speaker. It has all the invidiousness of self-praise, and all the ill-desert of falsehood.