Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.
The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions. Defect in the understanding is ignorance; in reasoning, erroneous opinion.
The first cause of Absurd conclusions I ascribe to the want of Method.
Subjects have no greater liberty in a popular than in a monarchial state. That which deceives them is the equal participation of command.
Prudence is a presumption of the future, contracted from the experience of time past.
Felicity is a continual progress of the desire from one object to another, the attaining of the former being still but the way to the latter.
Thoughts are to the Desires as Scouts and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the things Desired.
Scientia potentia est, sed parva; quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.
Appetite, with an opinion of attaining, is called hope; the same, without such opinion, despair.
For all laws are general judgements, or sentences of the legislator; as also every particular judgement is a law to him whose case is judged.
Such truth, as opposeth no man’s profit, nor pleasure, is to all men welcome.
The praise of ancient authors proceeds not from the reverence of the dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the living.
Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.
What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he that, living idly, getteth little and spendeth all he gets, seeing the one hath no more protection from the commonwealth than the other?
The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them.
There is no such thing as perpetual tranquillity of mind while we live here; because life itself is but motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.
Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter.
A man cannot lay down the right of resisting them that assault him by force, to take away his life.
I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.