Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

Never despise what you don't understand.

If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness, thou must never gratify it. No man is compelled to evil: his consent only makes it his. It is no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.

Excess in apparel is another costly folly. The very trimming of the vain world would clothe all the naked ones.

It were happy if we studied nature more in natural things; and acted according to nature, whose rules are few, plain, and most reasonable.

If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him. Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.