Art is man added to Nature.
The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess; neither can angel nor man come in danger by it.
Human knowledge and human power meet in one; for where the cause is not known the effect cannot be produced. Nature to be commanded must be obeyed; and that which in contemplation is as the cause is in operation as the rule.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
A bachelor’s life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.
Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul.
But men must know, that in this theatre of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
If a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
It is impossible to love and to be wise.
God has placed no limits to the exercise of the intellect he has given us, on this side of the grave.
There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.
Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.
Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite.
The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.
Science is but an image of the truth.