To gold and silver nature hath given no use that we may not well lack.
By reason of gifts and bribes the offices be given to rich men, which should rather have been executed by wise men.
And it will fall out as in a complication of diseases, that by applying a remedy to one sore, you will provoke another; and that which removes the one ill symptom produces others.
No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want – or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that you’re better than people if you can display more superfluous property than they can.
Lawyers-a profession it is to disguise matters.
As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship, whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language.
It is only natural, of course, that each man should think his own opinions best: the crow loves his fledgling, and the ape his cub.
By confronting us with irreducible mysteries that stretch our daily vision to include infinity, nature opens an inviting and guiding path toward a spiritual life.
If the lion knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him.
There are several sorts of religions, not only in different parts of the island, but even in every town; some worshipping the sun, others the moon or one of the planets.
The heart that has truly loved never forgets.
Pride thinks it’s own happiness shines the brighter by comparing it with the misfortunes of others.
It is possible to live for the next life and still be merry in this.
Kindness and good nature unite men more effectually and with greater strength than any agreements whatsoever, since thereby the engagements of men’s hearts become stronger than the bond and obligation of words.
Anyone who campaigns for public office becomes disqualified for holding any office at all.
Every tribulation which ever comes our way either is sent to be medicinal, if we will take it as such, or may become medicinal, if we will make it such, or is better than medicinal, unless we forsake it.
Nor can they understand why a totally useless substance like gold should now, all over the world, be considered far more important than human beings, who gave it such value as it has, purely for their own convenience.
Those among them that have not received our religion do not fright any from it, and use none ill that goes over to it, so that all the while I was there one man was only punished on this occasion.
For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good turn we write it in dust.
Most people know nothing about learning; many despise it. Dummies reject as too hard whatever is not dumb.