“Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master.”

Sweet meat must have sour sauce.

Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, the mind. No glass renders a man’s form or likeness so true as his speech.

The burnt child dreads the fire.

Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.

Greatness of name, in the father, ofttimes helps not forth, but overwhelms the son: They stand too near one another. The shadow kills the growth.

Nor use too swelling, or ill-sounded words . . . .

I do honor the very flea of his dog.

Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor; if they be one to us, to suffer them is valor too.

Nothing is more short-lived than pride.

How ready is heaven to those that pray!

Peace is never more than one thought away.

Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.

Love that is ignorant and hatred have almost the same ends.

Hell itself must yield to industry.

Tis the common disease of all your musicians that they know no mean, to be entreated, either to begin or end.

A prince without letters is a Pilot without eyes. All his government is groping.