If thy friends be of better quality than thyself, thou mayest be sure of two things; first, they will be more careful to keep thy counsel, because they have more to lose than thou hast; the second, they will esteem thee for thyself, and not for that which thou dost possess.

Historians desiring to write the actions of men, ought to set down the simple truth, and not say anything for love or hatred; also to choose such an opportunity for writing as it may be lawful to think what they will, and write what they think, which is a rare happiness of the time.

The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, the fourth for madness.

The bodies of men, munition, and money may justly be called the sinews of war.

It is plain there is not in nature a point of stability to be found; everything either ascends or declines; when wars are ended abroad, sedition begins at home; and when men are freed from fighting for necessity, they quarrel through ambition.

A wandering minstrel I A thing of shreds and patches Of ballads, songs and snatches And dreamy lullaby!

A man must first govern himself ere he is fit to govern a family; and his family ere he be fit to bear the government of the commonwealth.