A professional man of letters, especially if he is much at war with unscrupulous enemies, is naturally jealous of his privacy; he will be silent on his more personal interests, or, if he must speak, will veil them under conventional forms.

The most divine light only shineth on those minds which are purged from all worldly dross and human uncleanliness.

But true love is a durable fire, In the mind ever burning, Never sick, never old, never dead, From itself never turning.

To live thy better, let thy worst thoughts die.

If any friend desire thee to be his surety, give him a part of what thou hast to spare; if he press thee further, he is not thy friend at all, for friendship rather chooseth harm to itself than offereth it. If thou be bound for a stranger, thou art a fool; if for a merchant, thou puttest thy estate to learn to swim.

Talking much is a sign of vanity, for the one who is lavish with words is cheap in deeds.

Hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.