Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
There was a time when our desire for each other would have landed us in an asylum or prison, had it not been sanctioned by mutual assent. True or false.
Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends.
Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
For friends... do but look upon good Books: they are true friends, that will neither flatter nor dissemble.
Nature cannot be commanded except by being obeyed.
People of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon and seldom drive business home to it’s conclusion, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.
Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.
The way of fortune, is like the Milken Way in the sky; which is a meeting or knot of a number of small stars; not seen asunder, but giving light together.
There was never proud man thought so absurdly well of himself, as the lover doth of the person loved; and therefore it was well said, That it is impossible to love, and to be wise.
Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.
Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance; but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh virtue shine, and vices blush.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
Solomon saith, ‘He that considereth the wind, shall not sow, and he that looketh to the clouds, shall not reap.’ A wise man will make more opportunities, than he finds.
But it is not only the difficulty and labor which men take in finding out of truth, nor again that when it is found it imposeth upon men’s thoughts, that doth bring lies in favor; but a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself.
All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
He that seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himself too great, nor too small tasks; for the first will make him dejected by often failings; and the second will make him a small proceeder, though often by prevailings.