“A new disease? I know not, new or old, but it may well be called poor mortals plague for, like a pestilence, it doth infect the houses of the brain till not a thought, or motion, in the mind, be free from the black poison of suspect.”

Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.

I know no disease of the soul but ignorance, a pernicious evil, the darkener of man’s life, the disturber of his reason, and common confounder of truth.

It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.

Truth is man’s proper good, and the only immortal thing was given to our mortality to use.

If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.

A good man will avoid the spot of any sin. The very aspersion is grievous, which makes him choose his way in his life, as he would in his journey.

[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.

I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.-It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.

For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, As what he loves may never like too much.

The poet is the nearest borderer upon the orator.

The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.

A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night, It was the plant and flower of light. In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be.

Our whole life is like a play.

For he that once is good, is ever great.

I’ll give anything for a good copy now, be it true or false, so it be news.

When a virtuous man is raised, it brings gladness to his friends, grief to his enemies, and glory to his posterity.